Here's a little update for you. Regina's fourth birthday has arrived! I hope you enjoy.
The big day had arrived. It was Regina's fourth birthday. Cora had been up early (even earlier that Regina which really was early) and had been decorating the house with pink, purple and blue banners, streamers and balloons. As she stood back in the foyer and looked around her at all the banners saying 'Happy Birthday', the streamers hanging here there and everywhere and the balloons all around the rooms she thought that perhaps she had gone a little overboard on the decorations but she wanted it to be perfect for a little girl.
She then walked through to the kitchen. She had laid out all the food on baking trays, the cupcakes she had made that morning were sat on the cooling rack along with the jam sponge cake she had made for Regina's birthday cake. All she needed was to decorate it. She walked over to the cupboard and pulled out all the icing ingredient she had bought and went to work making a minion cake. Henry had printed out a picture for her to copy so that she could make it just right.
Just as she was putting the finishing touches to the cake she could hear movement from upstairs and tiny feet padding their way across the floor. Cora smiled and she finished up the icing of the cake and put everything away. She then wiped her hands on a dishcloth and walked out of the kitchen just in time for Regina coming down the stairs, dragging her cuddly toy horse behind her and rubbing one of her eyes. She looked very cute in her pyjamas. The bottoms were red and white stripped and were skinny fit, yet with Regina's small and skinny legs looked massive on her. The top had red and white stripped sleeves and on the front in the middle was plain white and wrote on it in black writing was ' I love mommy' the word love in red writing and then in smaller writing beneath it was written 'and she loves me'. When Cora had seen them she just had to buy them.
"Good morning my little princess." Cora said softly and Regina looked up at her with big wide eyes, her messy brown hair just adding to her cuteness.
"Morning mommy." Regina said and then looked around her. It took her a couple of minutes to finally dawn on her that it was her birthday. Cora waited and watched Regina as she looked around her and then finally realised what was going on. "It my birthday!" Regina said excitedly.
"Yes it is darling. Happy Birthday my big girl." Cora said crouching down and holding her arms out to Regina. Regina ran over to Cora and jumped into her arms wrapping her arms around her mother. "Oh you are so much bigger than you were last night I am sure of it." Cora said as she pulled away and Regina giggled.
"I not that big mommy." Regina said still giggling.
"Do you like your decorations?" Cora asked and Regina nodded her head happily.
"Yes mommy I do. They proper princess dec'rations?" Regina asked.
"They are my darling." Cora said and kissed the top of Regina's head. "Now mommy has some presents for you." Cora said standing up and taking Regina's hand in hers.
"Oh pressies!" Regina jumped up and down excitedly and let Cora lead her through to the living room. On the coffee table sat five presents, a couple big boxes and the rest smaller. Cora knew there probably wasn't much point buying Regina more toys since this was her last day as a toddler but she didn't want Regina's birthday to pass without it. The kitten…well that would come later. Rumple was picking that up for her, as well as all the accessories she had written down on a list for him. Regina ran over to the table and then turned round to look at Cora. "Mommy why pressies not under tree?" Regina asked in confusion.
Cora walked over to Regina and sat down beside her. "Oh Regina presents only go under a tree at Christmas time. When it is your birthday presents are just given to you." Cora explained.
"Aw." Regina shrugged and then turned back to her presents. She opened them all up receiving some minion things, a couple of things for her horse and also a colouring book and pens since she seemed to be so into drawing and colouring. Regina was so happy with all the gifts and she didn't even mention that there was no cat. "Thanks you mommy. I love them all." Regina said and she wrapped her arms around her mother again.
"You are most welcome Regina." Cora smiled. She then looked up at the clock. It was nearing twelve o'clock and everybody would be turning up for the party soon. "Why don't we go and get you ready Regina? Everyone will be here soon for your party."
"Okay mommy." Regina said and both she and Cora stood up and Cora took her hand to lead Regina up the stairs and into her bedroom.
Cora walked over to Regina's wardrobe and walking looking around to see what Regina could wear. Regina had many party dresses. "What party dress are we thinking Regina?" Cora asked as she looked through all of the dresses.
"I see mommy," Regina said holding her arms up to Cora. Cora leaned down and lifted Regina up, settling her on her hip and they looked through the dresses together. "Mommy I want the blue dress cause blue my favourite colour." Regina said pointing to the dress that she wanted. Cora pulled it out and held it out looking at it.
It was a light blue short sleeved dress with white flower lace over the top to compliment it. A thin gold sparkly ribbon around it tied with a bow. It was a lovely dress and perfect for Regina. So Cora set Regina down and got Regina some underwear and a pair of white frilly socks as well as her gold sparkly shoes to complete the outfit. Cora then turned to Regina to see her undressing herself. "Do you think you can dress yourself Regina?" Cora asked as she placed the clothes down on the floor beside her.
"Yes mommy I big girl now." Regina said.
Cora nodded and she sat back and watched as Regina carefully dressed herself. She was so proud of her girl and although she was sad that this was her last day with her little toddler she couldn't wait to see her big girl all grown up again.
The doorbell rang and Regina excitedly ran across the foyer to go and answer it with Cora right behind her. Cora opened the door to reveal Emma, Neal and Henry with Mary-Margaret and David behind them. "Happy birthday kid." Emma said as she walked into the house.
"Yea happy birthday Regina." Henry said giving her a hi-five.
"Thanks you." Regina grinned.
Neal walked in and held out his fist to Regina. "Happy Birthday little sis." He said and Regina grinned at him and bumped her fist against his shouting BOOM!
Cora rolled her eyes. "I really wish you hadn't taught her that." Cora muttered.
"Don't worry she will forget about it soon enough." Neal smiled.
Mary-Margaret and David wished Regina a happy birthday and walked into the house letting Cora close the door shutting out the coldness of the day. They then all walked into the living room and gave Regina her presents. She opened them and thanked everyone for them. The door bell rang again and Cora knew this time it would probably be Rumple with Regina's extra surprise from her. Regina was just about to run to get the door but Cora stopped her.
"Regina why don't you show Henry how your new toy works and I will get the door." Cora suggested.
"Okay." Regina shrugged and she grabbed Henry's hand and dragged him over to her new toy.
Cora walked out of the living room and over to the front door. She opened it to reveal Rumple and Belle. "Hello…in you come out of the cold."
"Hello Cora." Rumple said stepping into the house. Belle gave a nod and a smile and walked in after Rumple. "Where is she?" Rumple asked.
"She is in the living room showing Henry how one of her new toys works." Cora said. She then looked down to see the cat carrier in Rumples hand. "You got her." Cora smiled and held out her hand to take the carrier. "Thank you. Regina is going to love this."
"No problem. Let's just hope grown up Regina will love it." Rumple said with a smirk.
"Oh I am sure she will." Cora smiled back. "Come lets go and see her. I know she is excited to see you." Cora said motioning for Rumple and Belle to follow her. They walked into the living room and Cora hid the cat carrier behind her back. "Regina your father and Belle are here." Cora said.
Regina looked round and grinned. "Daddy!" Regina squealed and ran over to Rumple jumping into his arms.
"Happy Birthday princess." Rumple said softly kissing the top of Regina's head.
"Happy Birthday Regina." Belle said giving Regina a smile as Regina reached out and pulled Belle into her and Rumple's hug.
"Thanks you." Regina said sweetly.
Rumple placed Regina down and pulled out a long green box. "I have a special birthday present for you Regina. A present you need to be very careful with."
"What is it?" Regina asked in excitement as she look down at the box. Rumple opened the box to reveal a gold heart shaped locket. "Wow it so pretty daddy. That for me?" Regina said.
Rumple nodded his head. "Yes my princess. This is for you from me and Belle." Rumple said. He then gently pulled the locket out of the box and held it up to Regina. He opened the locket up to show her the picture he had placed inside it. It was a picture of everyone at Grannies Christmas party. "I have put a picture in it to. This way you know your family is always there for you."
Regina smiled as her father. "I love it daddy. Can I wear it now?" She asked.
"It might be a little big for you but yes you can wear it. just remember and be very careful with it okay?" Rumple said as he moved to place the necklace on Regina.
"I will daddy. I look after it." Regina said placing her small hand on the locket.
Rumple stood up and Regina then turned on her heel to go and show off her new present. Cora leaned over to Rumple. "That was a lovely gift Rumple. A gift she can hold onto."
"That was the plan." Rumple said with a smile.
Cora smiled back at him then cleared her throat. "Regina mommy has another gift for you." Regina gasped and ran back over to Cora, clapping her hands and jumping up and down .Cora crouched down slowly and brought out the cat carrier from behind her back. "This present is also something you will need to take special care of."
Regina gasped and crouched down even more to look into the cat carrier."You got my kitty!" Regina said and was quickly trying to open the door of the carrier to get to the kitten.
Cora nodded her head. "Yes. Remember and be careful Regina." Cora said as Regina lifted the kitten out of the carrier and held her up.
"It little tiger kitty. She so cute." Regina gushed and everyone laughed a little.
"Aw nice one Grandma." Henry said happily as she sat down beside Regina to look at the kitten. "What you gonna call her Regina?"
"Tiger cause she look like tiger." Regina said cuddling the kitten close to her. The kitten let out a little meow and hit Regina's face with her paw making Regina giggle. "Silly tiger."
Cora was in the kitchen clearing up. Everyone else had gone home, all except Rumple who was going to stay over to spend the last night with Regina as a toddler. Cora sighed and sniffed a little as she put away the last of the dishes.
Rumple walked into the kitchen. "Regina is calling for you. She insists that you wash her hair…" Rumple said but stopped as he noticed Cora was crying a little. "Cora what's wrong?" He asked as he walked over to the woman.
"Oh nothing I'm being silly." Cora waved him off and wiped at her cheeks and eyes. "I'm just nervous about tomorrow that is all. I want to have bonded with Regina but I am scared that this wasn't enough for her to try and forgive us."
"Oh Cora. I understand how you feel but we have done everything we could to try and give Regina the best six months of her life. I want more than anything to keep Regina in my life and I hope we have done enough for her and by her." Rumple said. "Don't worry. I have a feeling we won't be losing our daughter any time soon."
"You think?" Cora sniffed a little. Rumple nodded his head. "Okay…" Cora said and wiped at her cheeks again. "I guess I'll get up there and help Regina with her hair. Can you feed tiger?" Cora said.
"I cannot believe she named the at tiger." Rumple said rolling his eyes at the name.
"I am sure Regina will feel the exact same way tomorrow." Cora said with a laugh. She walked out of the kitchen and made her way upstairs and into the bathroom where Regina was sat in the bath, bubbles surrounding her. "Oh wow. You have a lot of bubbles in there Regina."
"Daddy said I could have as much bubbles as I wanted." Regina said.
"I'm sure he did." Cora muttered. She walked over to the side of the bath and knelt down picking up the shampoo and pouring some into her hand. "Alright Regina head back. Let's get this hair washed." Regina done as she was told while Cora washed her hair with the shampoo and conditioner. Once she was finished she got the towel from the side and got Regina to stand up. She wrapped the fluffy white towel around her and lifted her out of the bath. She helped Regina get dry and tickled her a little making Regina giggle. Oh how she loved to hear her little girl giggle.
Cora then helped Regina into her nightie, which was pink with little red love hearts all over it. "Will we go down stairs and get some milk before we go to bed?" Cora asked. Regina nodded her head and held her arms up to her mother. "Oh are we not able to use those little legs." Regina gave her mother a cheeky smile and shook her head. Cora laughed and she leaned down lifting Regina up and balancing her on her hip. She walked downstairs with her and into the kitchen where Rumple was. "Could you get Regina some milk in her cup?" Cora asked giving Rumple a look that told him to add the potion to it. It was time to give it to Regina. Rumple nodded and Cora turned on her heel and walked back out of the kitchen and into the living room.
She sat down on the sofa with Regina on her lap and cuddled into her. She turned the TV onto cartoons and Regina clung to her mother as she watched them. Rumple then came into the room and sat down beside Cora and handed Regina her milk. "There you go princess."
"Thanks you daddy." Regina said and then started to drink her milk. Cora and Rumple looked down at Regina then up at each other. This was the last night they were going to have with the little baby girl. It was a sad night but they couldn't wait to see their grown up girl again.
Cora and Rumple stood in the doorway of Regina's bedroom watching as she slept. Once Regina had fallen to sleep Cora had used her magic to turn Regina's bedroom back to how it was six months ago. She returned all of adult Regina's clothes and had packed all of little Regina's clothes away. She then waved her hand over Regina and changed her into an adult night gown thinking it would be best for when she woke up.
As they watched Regina they saw her appearance beginning to change as he went through the years. "What age is she now do you think?" Rumple asked as he looked at an older Regina but she was still young, fresh faced and innocent looking. She was more the Regina he had known. He guessed she wasn't far off the age where he had first met her.
"I think she looks about sixteen there." Cora said quietly. "She really is beautiful isn't she…" Cora said with a smile on her face.
"Yes she is." Rumple replied. He then looked over at Cora tearing his eyes from Regina for just a moment. "Are you ready for the talk in the morning?"
"Not really but I'm kind of looking forward to it." Cora said.
"Me too." Rumple replied and then they stood and watched Regina for a little longer until the potion had finished its work and Regina was back to her adult self. They then wandered away to bed to try and get some sleep before the morning.