Hey everyone. Not long until this story will end. Just one more chapter and an epilogue after this one.
I also want to promote my new story If the shoe fits The story is loosly based off cinderella and is EvilCharming.
Plot: Once Regina's father dies her stepmother and step sister take over the house and turn her into a maid. She spends the next couple of years just trying to keep her head down but when the Prince's ball is announced and a kind Fairy appears to Regina will she have a chance to attend the ball and find her Prince Charming who will save her?
Nine months had passed and it was Regina's birthday once more. Cora had wanted to make a big thing of Regina's birthday again, wanting to throw a big party inviting half of the town, decorate the whole house along with the garden. Regina on the other hand had told her mother not to bother with all the fuss. She wasn't a little kid anymore and she really didn't need all the fuss.
But of course Cora didn't listen and Regina woke up to a house decorated in balloons and banners. As she walked down the stairs she laughed as she looked around the house. "She's done it again." Regina said quietly to herself as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Happy birthday mom!" Henry said happily as he skipped over to her and wrapped his arms around Regina's middle. He was getting taller as each day passed and he was nearly the same height as his mother. "Do you like all the decorations? Grandma was up so early to get it all up for you."
"Yes, I can imagine she was." Regina said as she continued to let her eyes dart around the house.
"Come see what she has cooked for your birthday breakfast." Henry said unwrapping his arms from her waist and grabbing her hand gently pulling her towards the kitchen. They entered the kitchen and Regina looked to the table to see all of her favourite breakfast foods all set out. She huffed out a laugh and shook her head. "Looks yummy right?"
"Yes it does look delicious sweetheart." Regina replied. She then looked around the kitchen expecting to see her mother but frowning when she didn't. "Where's your grandmother?" She asked as Henry guided her over to the table. She sat down and couldn't help but lick her lips as she looked over all the delicious looking food. From blueberry muffins to chocolate chip pancakes and strawberries. She was in food heaven.
"She is preparing a birthday surprise for you." Henry replied as he sat down in the chair opposite her.
Regina rolled her eyes and then looked down as she felt tiger moving in-between her legs. The little cat having grown now her love for her owner only growing more too. Regina smiled and leaned down lifting her cat up. "Hello my little tiger." She said softly. "Your grandmother isn't getting me another pet is she?"
"Nope." Henry said with a slight huff or annoyance. "I did try for a puppy but she just wasn't convinced."
Regina laughed a little. "Well I am glad she wasn't convinced."
"But mom…" Henry whined. "A puppy would be so cool."
"I don't think Tiger would agree with you." Regina replied stroking the cat on her lap who was now purring contently. "Why don' you try convince Emma?"
"I tried. Says she is scared of dogs. Especially puppies." Henry said with a shrug as he piled his plate with food.
"Emma is scared of dogs? After everything she has faced as the saviour it turns out she is scared of dogs?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow. "Are you sure she isn't just saying that?"
Henry shook his head. "No she really is scared. Even Pongo terrifies her. When he runs off its gramps who has to go get him."
Regina couldn't help the small smirk that appeared on her face. "Well now I have some ideas for her birthday."
Henry laughed. "Mom don't be mean."
"I'm not going to be mean. Just going to wind her up a little." Regina smirked. "Now tell me what birthday surprise is your grandmother planning?"
"I can't tell you that mom. It would ruin the surprise." Henry said.
"I will act surprised." Regina replied.
"Not happening mom." Henry said. Regina rolled her eyes but continued to eat her breakfast. She hated surprises.
Cora clambered into the house, bags in her hands. She kicked the door closed with her foot and walked further into the house. Regina walked out of her study wearing a tight black pencil skirt and a silk red shirt. Her hair perfect as always and her make up perfectly painted onto her face. "Hello mother." Regina smiled. "What do you have there?" She asked peering over the bags.
"Oh just a few things. Nothing really dear." Cora said as she walked over to the stairs. She wanted to get up to her bedroom and get these things wrapped before Regina saw them.
"Really?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow. "Henry told me you were out gathering a birthday surprise for me."
"Oh did he? Well yes…I was…which is why I need to head upstairs now." Cora said with a smile. She turned on her heel and started to walk up the stairs.
"Well I'm glad to hear no barking. Good to see you didn't fall for Henry's charm and buy a puppy." Regina replied as she walked back into the study.
Cora let out a sigh of relief, partly for her daughter leaving her an partly for the fact she had done the right thing and not fallen for Henry's words and gotten Regina a puppy. She had been close. She quickly walked up the rest of the stairs and made her way into her bedroom. She closed the door over and went over to her bed and placed the bags down. She started getting things out of the bag. She hadn't gone mad like Regina had asked her too. She had just bought a few things that over the past few months she had seen Regina looking at and knew she hadn't bought them. She had bought her a new dress, it was a light blue and in Regina's usually smart style. She knew her daughter would never have bought it for herself but she could see in Regina's eyes just how much she liked the dress. She had bought her a nice necklace with earrings to match and also she had framed a photo. It was a photo of the whole family but with the difference of Robin being added. She smiled as she looked down at it. She had bought a lovely silver frame and knew it was perfect. She knew her daughter would love all the gifts.
Rumple, Belle, Emma, Neal, Mary-Margaret and David had all arrived at the house for a small family dinner. Robin had also arrived and everyone had given Regina her birthday presents. Regina had loved everything she had received and it was just Cora's presents left to open. Regina slowly opened the presents, she had always been one for taking her time when she was opening presents. The first present she opened was the necklace and earrings set. She smiled as she opened the box and saw it was the set she had seen in the jewellery shop window. "Thank you mother" Regina said as she turned a little to look at Cora. Cora just smiled back and Regina placed the set to the side and opened up the next present. Next was the dress she had seen. She gasped a little and held it up. "You bought me the dress…" She said quietly as she just stared at it.
"I saw you looking at it and I knew you loved it but you refused to buy it and well…" Cora said with a slight shrug. "I knew you wouldn't buy it and I remembered you wearing that colour a lot when you were younger."
Regina's smile grew. "I never really wear such bright colours…nowadays."
"Well I thought perhaps it's time for a change." Cora grinned.
Regina gave a slight nod and placed the dress to the side. She opened up the last present and her smile grew even more, if that was even possible, as she looked down at the family photo in the sparkling silver frame. "I love this. Thank you mother." Regina said standing up a little and reaching over and hugging her mother. "You didn't let Henry charm you."
"Don't know what you are missing." Henry huffed a little. "A puppy would be so good."
Regina chuckled and looked over to Emma who was shaking her head as Henry was now giving her pleading eyes. "For the last time we are not getting a damn puppy." Emma sighed.
"And why would that be dear?" Regina asked trying to hide her smirk. "I mean I have explained to Henry I shouldn't have a puppy here because I have my little cat but you don't have any pets so to speak."
"Regina don't even go there…" Neal warned pointing his finger at his sister.
"What? You don't have any and Henry really is desperate for a puppy." Regina said looking over to Henry and giving him a wink which made him grin.
"He has Pongo." Emma said.
"Pongo isn't mine though." Henry whined.
"Aw it's alright dear." Regina said placing her hand on her son's knee. "I suppose you can share Tiger with me." Regina said and as if on cue Tiger came prowling into the living room and started purring at Henry's feet. "So Emma where did your fear of dogs come from then?" Regina asked deciding to stop playing with Emma, just for a little bit any way.
"What?" Emma asked her eyes widening. She then looked over to a guilty looking Henry who was now hiding behind his brunette more. "Henry you said you wouldn't tell anyone." She all but whined, a blush rising on her cheeks slightly.
"Oh it is nothing to be embarrassed about dear. I am sure many people are scared of puppies." Regina smirked.
Emma rolled her eyes. "I was chased by a dog when I was little okay. It was a really big dog and it almost bit me."
"Oh I'm sure it was dear." Regina said.
"Stop winding her up you." Neal said pushing Regina lightly, laughing a little.
Regina just smirked. Cora came back into the living room. "Dinner's ready everyone."
Everyone stood up to walk into the dining room. Regina held back moving her presents over to the coffee table and making sure the living room was a bit tidier. "You coming Regina?" Neal asked as he stood by the door.
"Yes just tidying a little." Regina said as she folded her new dress.
Neal stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and walked back over to his little sister. "You know when I first found out you were my sister…I kind of freaked out."
"You did?" Regina asked. "Well you probably remember that I did too."
Neal nodded his head. "Yep but…I have to admit I like having you as a little sister. I like having a little sister. Someone to watch out for and protect if need be."
Regina smiled up at her brother. "Well as lovely as that is I am more than capable of handling myself."
"Oh I am well aware of that." Neal said with a laugh. "But still I like knowing if you needed me to that I could. It's been over two years now since we found out. I can't really remember what it was like without you as my annoying little sister."
Regina laughed and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "Right back at you big brother." She said giving him a light push as they made their way out of the living room and towards the dining room.
They all sat down eating their dinner and chatting in between mouthfuls. It was the perfect birthday to Regina. It was simple, small and nothing special but it was all she wanted. She had her family, friends and people she loved all in one room, the people who were most special to her and that was all she needed in her life right now. Their meal was finished and they were moving onto dessert. Mary-Margaret helped Cora clear the dishes and bring through Regina's birthday cake. They all sang happy birthday to her, Regina blushing as they did so and then they each had a piece. once dessert was finished Regina looked over to Robin. He nodded his head and Regina cleared her throat and stood up from her chair as everyone looked over to her.
"Everyone, Robin and I would like to we would like to tell you." Regina said.
"Oh my god! Your pregnant." Emma said, making Mary-Margaret gasp and Rumple choke on the wine he had just sipped. Neal couldn't but laugh at his father as Belle fussed over him to make sure he was okay.
"No…no. I'm not pregnant." Regina replied. Regina then looked back to Robin and took his hand in hers. Robin stood up beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Robin…and I…we are engaged." Regina said with a grin on her face.
"What? Oh Regina that is wonderful." Cora gushed as she stood up and walked over to her daughter and her now future son in law. She hugged them both and kissed Regina on the cheek. "Oh I am so happy for you both."
"Yea congratulations you two." Mary-Margaret said.
"Welcome to the family mate." David said giving Robin a light slap on the back.
"Congratulations mom…and Robin." Henry grinned. He had hoped Robin would become his proper new step dad.
"Congratulations sis." Neal said hugging her tightly. "And to you Robin." He said shaking Robins hand.
Regina looked over to Rumple who hadn't said anything. "Dad?" She asked softly, with a hopeful look in her eyes. Rumple stood up from his chair and walked over to his daughter. The daughter he had missed out on so much of and had ruined so much of her life all at once. The daughter that had given him a chance to prove how good a father he could be. The daughter he loved so much.
"Congratulations princess." He said softly wrapping his daughter up in his arms.
Regina breathed out a laugh. "Thank you dad."
Rumple pulled away and walked over to Robin holding his hand. Robin placed his hand in Rumples and shook it. "Just make sure you continue to look after her and make her happy."
"I will sir." Robin said with a nod.