I do apologise in the delay of updating but with Christmas things have been very busy. I do hope everyone has had a good Christmas and Santa spoiled you!
Once again Cora found herself up at the crack of dawn only this time she wasn't the only one. As she walked into the kitchen she jumped as she saw Rumple sitting at the kitchen island with a cup of coffee in his hands. She gasped and held her hand to her heart. "Rumple you scared me." She said as she walked further into the room and over to the coffee maker.
"I'm sorry. What are you doing up?" He said.
"Presumably the same reason you are doing up. I couldn't sleep." Cora replied and got the milk out of the fridge to put into her coffee. She put the milk back into the fridge and walked over to Rumple sitting down on a stool beside him. "I have tossed and turned since we went to bed. Just thinking about Regina I guess."
Rumple nodded his head but didn't say anything. They sat in silence for a bit just staring into their cups of coffee. They were quite sure why they were so nervous. Maybe it was because six months ago Regina wanted nothing to do with them. She was angry at them, hurt by them, would hardly speak to them. They had lived such an amazing six months with Regina and they were scared things might go back to how they were before. Rumple sighed and looked down at the steaming hot brown liquid in his cup. They both jumped as they hear noise above them and they knew they were about to find out whether Regina was willing to bond with them or not.
Regina groaned as she felt herself waking up. She stretched and looked around the room, registering where she was. She then shot up in bed and looked down at herself. She reached up and ran her fingers through her shoulder length brown hair. She then quickly shuffled to the side of the bed and slipped out looking around her. Her bedroom was back to normal. Everything was back to normal height again. She walked over to the mirror and stared at her reflection.
"I'm a grown up again." Regina whispered as she stared at herself. She had to admit it was good to be back to normal. She really hadn't realised just how much hard work being a toddler could be at times. Her eyes then landed on the golden locket hanging around her neck. It was a much better fit not she was an adult again. She placed her hand on it and smiled a little. She gently opened it and looked down at the picture inside. She couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her and she looked at it, her cheeky toddler self grinning up at the camera. She closed the locket over again and then turned on her heel and walked across her bedroom and over to the door. She got her dressing gown and pulled it around herself. She then opened her bedroom door and peeked out looking down the hallway. She then took a few steps out, straightening her posture and holding herself up.
She walked to the top of the stairs and peered down. She could hear her mother and father talking down stairs. She was nervous about seeing them. What did she say to them? Where did they go from here? She took a deep breath and started to walk down the stairs looking around her as she did so. Her mother had left the decorations all up and it made her smile. As she reached the bottom of the stairs a little ginger kitten with black stripes ran up to her and pawed her feet. Regina looked down and grinned at the little kitten. "Well hello there tiger." Regina said quietly as she leaned down and picked the kitten up gently. "Do you still recognise me?" She asked the kitten and smiled as the kitten pawed her nose. "I'll take that as a yes then."
She then turned towards the kitchen and slowly walked over, holding the kitten in her hands. She took another deep breath before peeking in seeing her mother and father sat on stools at the kitchen island with coffee cups in their hands.
"I probably should have taken the birthday decorations down shouldn't I?" Cora worried her bottom lip. "I'm not sure if Regina will like all the fuss."
"Oh Cora I don't think Regina is going to bother about that. I am sure she will have a lot more on her mind than birthday decorations." Rumple replied.
"Oh I know she will but I should have…" Cora sighed.
Regina smiled a little. Her mother was worrying over the little things. "I like that you left them up." Regina said making both her mother and father jump a little. She walked further into the kitchen and over to the opposite side of the kitchen island. She placed the kitten on the counter and leaned on the counter too looking at her mother and father.
"You do?" Cora asked.
Regina nodded her head. "It reminds me more of what you done for me over the last six months." Regina replied. "I…well I wanted to say…Thank you I guess…" Regina said with a frown as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say and how she should say it.
"It sounds weird you saying that properly." Cora said with a watery laugh.
"Would you prefer if I said thanks you?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow.
Cora and Rumple laughed a little and Rumple shook his head. "It doesn't sound the same now you are an adult."
Regina laughed a little and then looked down at the kitten sat on the counter looking up at her. "When you first came to me with the whole idea of turning me back into a toddler for six months I thought you were delusional but now…now I think…" Regina said trailing off trying to find the right words."I think it was a wonderful idea and just what we all needed. Six months ago I had no idea what to feel towards the both of you or how to process everything that was going on. You had just gotten your heart back and were completely different from what I was used to…" Regina said looking towards Cora. "And you…" Regina said directing herself to Rumple. "I found out you were my father and I guess it was just too much for me to take so I…I pushed myself away from you both, I put my walls up and acted as if I wanted nothing to do with you."
"Regina we understand why you did that and we in no way blame you for doing that." Cora said. "We felt overwhelmed too. I was feeling things I had not felt in years, or things I had never felt."
"And I was learning about a daughter I never knew I had. I was shocked to find out you were mine. Shocked and hurt by the way I had treated you in the past. What I had put my own daughter through." Rumple said.
"You didn't know I was yours…and that is why I am choosing to put that behind us…along with you mother. I want to put our past behind us. Over the last six months you have given me some of the best childhood memories I could ever ask for. You both spoilt me rotten and cared for me and…it was just everything I ever dreamed of." Regina said, tears welling up in her eyes. "And mother I'm sorry for the times I was a brat."
Cora laughed a little and wiped her eyes. She had found since she got her heart back she had become quite emotional very easily. "That was not very often." Cora replied.
"Yes but it happened." Regina shrugged. "And I know you didn't like having to punish me but…you done it without making me fear you. I never hated you for what you done to show me how I was acting was wrong."
"See…told you." Rumple said nudging Cora.
"Are you really pulling out that 'I told you so' card?" Cora asked with a raised eyebrow and Regina smiled at her mother and father getting along so well.
Rumple rolled his eyes and looked back over to Regina. "We loved every minute with you Regina."
"So did I…apart from when I was sick of course…but all the rest of the six months was good." Regina said with a smile.
"Yes…I don't remember you being that against medicine before…" Cora said with a slight frown.
"Really? You don't remember my nanny leaving because I bit her when she tried to give me some kind of medicine when I had the flu back in the Enchanted Forest." Regina said and Rumple laughed a little at that. Now having seen Regina as a toddler he could really picture that happening.
"Oh…" Realisation dawning on Cora. "That is why she left us. Henry handled that nanny. Me and her didn't quite see eye to eye." Cora said.
Regina smirked and then dropped her gaze down to the kitten again. She moved her hand over the soft fur of its back. "It still might take me some time to get used to all of this…you understand…it's not going to just become this amazing family or anything…I still need time to work things out. Being a toddler I never questioned anything but as an adult it's different." Regina said glancing up at Cora and Rumple.
"We understand that Regina. We aren't going anywhere." Cora said.
Later on that day Henry burst through the door, entering the mansion at great speed with Emma and Neal behind him. "Mom!" He called and ran to the kitchen looking for her.
Regina came out of her office dressing in a bright blue dress that clung to her figure perfectly. She wore black patent leather heels and a blazer over the top, the sleeve cutting to her elbow. "Hello Emma…Neal…" Regina said giving them a slight smile not sure what to say to them.
"Regina." Emma smiled. "You look more like your old self."
"I feel more like my old self." Regina replied. She then looked over to Neal. She had bonded with him when she was a toddler but were things the same now? Yes he was her big brother but now she was older did things change. She stood awkwardly.
"Come here you." Neal said and pulled Regina towards him. Regina stumbled a little and fell into his arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and Regina slowly wrapped her arms around him. "No matter how old you are your still my little sis." Neal said as he pulled away from her and Regina smiled at him. He then held his fist out to her and she rolled her eyes.
"Yea…that's not happening." Regina said.
"Aw come on. Don't tell me you have gotten boring now your old." Neal said jokingly to her.
"I am not old." Regina threw back. "And I am not boring. I am just not as immature as you are."
"Oh hello miss Sassy." Neal smirked and nudged her.
Regina laughed and rolled her eyes at him. Henry then walked out of the kitchen his eyes landing on Regina. "Mom!" He shouted happily and ran over to her. He skidded to a halt right beside her and wrapped his arms around her. "It's so good to see you. I mean adult you."
Regina laughed. "It's good to see you to Henry." Regina replied and kiss the top of his head. He really had grown over the six months. "I do hope Miss Swan hasn't stuff you up with junk food while I have been a toddler."
Henry shrugged. "Mostly but she did try to cook."
"Thanks for that kid." Emma laughed.
"Sorry." Henry said. "Where's tiger?" He asked.
"Oh she is up in my bedroom claiming a bit of my bed. It seems she thinks she will be sleeping in my bed." Regina replied and Henry smirked.
"I knew you'd be soft for the kitten." Henry said.
"I am not soft with her. She will not be sleeping on my bed." Regina replied. She then looked down to see something under Henry's arm. "What's that?" Regina asked.
"Oh these are for you, grandma and Grandpa. Where are they?" Henry said.
"They are out in the garden." Regina replied.
"Alright come on." Henry said taking Regina's hand in his and dragging her out towards the garden. When they got outside they saw Cora and Rumple sat at the table. "Hey grandma and grandpa."
"Hello Henry. Enjoying having your mother back I see." Cora said with a smile as Regina stumbled out after Henry.
Henry nodded and walked over to an empty seat and sat down putting the three photo albums on the table. "I have something for all of you. Mom sit down." Henry said pointing to the empty seat. Regina did as Henry said. "Over the past six months I have been taking lots of photos because I wanted to make you each a photo album so that'd you would always remember what had happened." Henry explained as he handed each one of them a photo album. "I made each one your own, added certain things to each to make them more unique."
Regina opened up her photo album and smiled as she saw a picture of herself and her mother. She turned each page smiling more and more at each picture she saw. "Aw this is lovely Henry. Thank you." Regina said softly with a smile. She turned another page and saw a picture of her three year old self dressed up in a fairy costume, tiara on her head and wand in her hand. Cora had landed on the same page and she laughed. "Aw Regina you look so cute in that one." Cora gushed.
"Yea thanks mother." Regina muttered and Neal laughed.
"Look at the little cutie." Neal said and pinched Regina's cheek.
She slapped his hand and gave him a warning look. "I dare you to do that again. I may be your little sister but I could still whip your ass."
"Language Regina." Rumple said.
Regina rolled her eyes and Henry smirked at his mother being told off by her father. It was so funny to watch. Neal just laughed. "Wait until you see the videos." He said.
Regina's head shot up at that with wide worried eyes. "What?!" Regina asked. "What videos? Who took videos?" Regina asked and then looked to Henry. "Henry Daniel Mills you better not have videoed me!"
"Oh Regina you were adorable. You have nothing to worry about." Cora said patting Regina's hand.
"I may have taken a few videos…" Henry said biting his lip trying not to laugh.
"Yea a few hundred." Emma laughed.
"What?! Where are they?" Regina asked.
"Somewhere…" Henry said slowly.
"Henry Daniel Mills I want those videos!" Regina said desperately thumping her hands on the table.
"Well I want doesn't get mother…" Henry said with a shrug and a slight smirk. Both Emma and Neal had to try very hard not to laugh.
"Henry." Regina whined.
"Are you sure you have grown up as you still sound very much like the toddler you were?" Henry asked with an innocent look on his face.
Regina glared at him and threw herself back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "You use any of those videos to embarrass me and I will get you back."
Henry laughed. "How can you get me back?"
"Two can play at that game Henry. Hidden somewhere in this house is a box full of photos and videos of you when you were younger. if any of those videos are shown out with this house I will make sure those photos and videos are shown all over town." Regina said.
Henry and Regina stared at one another for a moment and then Henry smirked and held out his hand to her. "Well played." He said and Regina smirked back at him and shook his hand. "I promise those videos shall not be shown out with this house. I shall make sure to get them to you."
"Good." Regina said with a nod. "I taught you well by the way." Regina said as she glanced back down at her photo album.
"That you did mom." Henry said.