Here is a chapter for you all! Are we excited for the return of Once? I know I am! Cannot wait to see what the Season will bring!
They had reached the half way mark of Regina's time as a toddler and Rumple decided he wanted to do something special for Regina. He decided it was time for Regina to meet Mr Gru. So he had organised for Neal to dress up in a Gru costume and meet them at Grannies diner during lunch time. He had been going to dress up as Gru himself until Henry pointed out Regina could become suspicious if he wasn't there too. So Neal had so kindly volunteered.
Rumple had gathered Cora, Regina, Belle, Emma, Henry and The Charmings to the diner and they were all sat having some lunch. Rumple glanced down at his watch. In about ten minutes Neal would turn up so he decided now was the time to try and set up the story for Regina. He coughed a little catching Emma's attention and giving her the signal she needed. Emma excused herself and went towards the toilet. She pulled out her phone and pressed to dial Rumple's number.
Rumple's phone started ringing in his pocket and he pulled it out pressing the answer call button and placing it to his ear. "Hello." Rumple answered.
"Okay I have no idea what you want me to say…" Emma said down the phone.
"Why hello there Gru. Haven't spoken to you in a while. How are you?" Gold said loudly.
Regina at hearing the name Gru snapped her head round to look at Rumple, pushing herself over a little to be closer. "That Mr Gru?" Regina asked.
Rumple nodded his head. "You're in town…and want to pop in to say hello? That's no bother Gru."
"Mr Gru coming to see us?" Regina asked excitedly.
"Alright Gru I will see you soon. Bye." Rumple said and then hung up the phone.
"Daddy is Mr Gru coming here?" Regina asked bouncing on her chair.
"Yes he is Regina. Gru is in town and says he would like to finally come and meet you." Rumple said smiling at how excited Regina seemed.
"Really daddy?" Regina asked excitedly. She then turned to Cora, Emma, Henry and the Charmings a huge smile on her face. "Mr Gru is coming mommy. Did you hear daddy say Mr Gru is coming?"
"Yes I did sweetheart. Isn't that exciting." Cora said with a smile on her face. "Why don't we go and get you cleaned up for Gru coming to see you? We wouldn't want to meet him with a mucky face now would we?"
"Oh no mommy We can't do that." Regina said and she jumped off of her chair and hurried to the bathroom with Cora following behind her.
Rumple smiled as he watched Regina run off. He then stood up and walked over to Granny. "Granny you wouldn't mind if we use your back room would you? I'm organising a little something for Regina."
"No no it's fine. Through you go." Granny replied.
Rumple nodded his thanks and told everyone to go through to the back room. Once Cora and Regina came out of the bathroom he told them to go through to the back room and he told Regina he would go and get Gru for her. Regina had insisted she should go with Rumple but Cora managed to convince her that if she went to the back room to wait she could probably get another chocolate milkshake which seemed to keep Regina happy.
So Rumple went out of Grannies to meet Neal who was all dressed in his Gru costume and standing in the alley way of Grannies, the Gru head under his arm. "You owe me one." He said as soon as Rumple walked up the alley way. "I look ridiculous!"
"You may think you look ridiculous but I know one little girl in there who is going to be the happiest little girl in this town. Your little sister is very excited about meeting Gru. You wouldn't want to disappoint your little sister would you?" Rumple said.
Neal rolled his eyes. "You're using the sister card on me already? That's harsh." Neal then sighed. He lifted up the Gru head and placed it on. "Come on let's get this over with."
Rumple smiled. "Do you remember that accent?"
"Yes I remember." Neal said now speaking in Gru's accent.
Rumple nodded and they made their way back into Grannies, this time through the back door. They walked up to the room and Rumple peered in. "Regina I have someone here that would really like to meet you…" Rumple said as he walked into the room.
"Mr Gru is here now?" Regina asked jumping up from the sofa and walking over to Rumple.
"Yes…here he is…" He said stepping to the side to let Neal walk into the room.
Regina gasped and everyone else in the room had to try and control their laughter since they knew exactly who it was in the Gru suit. Regina stared up at 'Gru' seemingly frozen. Neal knelt down and held out his hand to Regina. "Very nice to meet you Regina…" Neal said in Gru's accent.
Regina still just stood there and Rumple laughed a little as Regina seemed to be very star struck. Cora walked over to Regina and she knelt down too. "Regina aren't you going to say hello to Mr Gru?"
"I…Hi…" Regina said quietly and cuddled into Cora a little. It appeared Regina was going to act shy.
"Your father had told me all about you. Did you like the minion I sent to you?" Neal said.
Regina nodded her head and moved away from Cora a little. "I did…it the best present ever…" Regina said. 'Say thank you' Cora whispered into Regina's ear. "Thanks you lots Mr Gru."
"You are most welcome Regina." He replied.
Neal spent an hour playing Mr Gru, talking and playing with Regina and Henry took some pictures of them. Regina showed 'Gru' her minion and told Gru that she would appreciate if one day he could part with a real one for her. Neal told her he would see what he could do. When it was time for him to leave Regina was not very happy about it but 'Gru' told her he would come back and visit soon.
A couple of days had passed and Regina was staying with Rumple and Belle. Rumple had to go out to the shop to work so Belle had suggested that she look after Regina to save Regina getting bored in the shop and she didn't need to go into the library today.
Rumple finished his breakfast and he stood up from the table just as Belle got his dishes. He walked round and kissed the top of Regina's head. "You be good for Belle today Regina…" He said softly.
"I will daddy. When you back?" Regina asked looking up at Rumple.
"I won't be back until dinner time sweetheart. But I am sure you and Belle will have lots of fun today." Rumple said. He then walked over to Belle and kissed her. "Call me if you need anything."
"We will be fine Rumple." Belle said with a smile.
Rumple quickly left the house and Belle turned round, leaning on the counter and looking over at Regina who was looking up at her with a big smile on her face. She had no idea what to do with Regina today. She hadn't really thought out a plan. She bit her lip for a moment. "So…what would you like to do today Regina?" Belle asked.
"I want to build a fort." Regina said.
"You want to build a fort?" Belle asked.
Regina nodded her head. "Yes. Henry has a castle on the beach that he calls his fort. So I want to build one. on the beach like Henrys." Regina said.
"Well I'm not sure if we could do that Regina…" Belle started but stopped as soon as she saw the sad look on Regina's face. She really didn't want to upset the little girl but she really didn't think building a castle on the beach was going to be feasible. An idea then hit her! "We could try and build a fort in the living room though Regina…" Belle said as she walked over to where Regina sat at the table and sat down in the chair beside her.
"We could? How do we do that?" Regina asked.
"Well we can use blankets and pillows and take some of your toys in. We can maybe do it around the TV and watch a movie?" Belle suggested.
Regina thought about it for a moment and then nodded her head liking the idea. "That sound good." Regina replied with a smile. "Can we back cookies to take into the fort?" Regina asked with fluttering eyelashes and a cheeky smile.
Belle laughed a little and nodded her head. "Sure why not."
So they spent the next couple of hours baking the cookies and once they were done the kitchen was in quite a mess. While Regina licked out the bowl of cookie dough mix Belle went about cleaning the kitchen a bit. The cookies were soon ready and Belle placed them out to cool.
"They look yummy." Regina said licking her lips.
"They do indeed Regina. You done a fabulous job making them." Belle praised making Regina smile. "Why don't we go and make your fort in the living room while these cookies cool down?"
"Okay Belle." Regina said.
They made their way into the living room and belle collect all the blankets and sheets that she could find. She organised all the pillows on the floor and then with a little help with Regina sorted the blankets on the furniture to make a fort. "What toys are you going to take into your fort Regina?" Belle asked as she placed the last blanket over the sofa.
"I think Minion and Mickey." Regina said running over to a chair and picking up her Minion and Mickey and dragging them over to the fort. She crawled through the door they had made and sat them both in the fort. "Belle need more light. Can't see." Regina called out from the fort.
Belle got one of the lamps and gently placed it into the fort and turned it on. "Is that better Regina?" Regina nodded her head. "Okay well why don't you watch some cartoons and I will go and get you a cookie and some milk?" Belle said as she put the TV on for Regina.
"Okay Belle." Regina said settling herself in the middle of Minion and Mickey.
Belle went into the kitchen and got a glass of milk for Regina and a couple of cookies placing them on a plate. She carried it through to the living room and knelt down. "Here you are Regina." Belle said handing Regina her cup and placing the plate on the floor.
"Thanks you Belle." Regina replied. Belle then went to leave the fort. "Belle where you going?" Regina asked. "You need to come in the fort too. We going to watch a movie."
Belle smiled at this. She hadn't expected Regina to want her to join. So she shuffled into the fort, being as careful as she could to not knock it down. She sat down and they put on a movie and for the first time Belle felt she really was bonding with Regina.