Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time does not belong to me! All characters and references to the show belong to ABC and Channel 5.
Once Upon a Time: School's Out! The Third One-Chapter 23
They arranged to meet that same night. At Midnight exactly.
Cora's car pulled up on the pathway a block away from the school. Once she was parked, she made sure to bring her stylish black suede bag with her when she got out. Inside it were the items she would need to frame the Gold boy for his classmates crimes.
She arrived at the College at 12am on the dot, and was pleased to see that the skinny nineteen year old was already waiting, leaning against the gate with his hands in his pockets, looking around in an impatient manner. Good, he was punctual, that meant she could go home sooner.
She waited a few seconds before stepping out of the shadows, coughing to alert him to her presence.
"A-hem!"
Gold raised his head at the sound. Upon seeing her, he withdrew his hands from his pockets and pushed himself away from the gate. He regarded her apprehensively, as though she had done something to offend him "I was starting grow concerned"
It took everything Cora had in her not to roll her eyes "Well, here I am" she responded, coming towards him until they were but two feet apart. A small smirk came to his face, making his features seem distorted.
"Yes, you are" he said, making Cora wonder what the hell he was on about for a moment before she pushed it to the back of her mind. It was hardly important.
So instead, she pulled her bag forwards "Everything you'll need is in here"
"Don't want to waste any time, eh?" Rumplestiltskin chuckled before he looked at the bag "What's in it?"
Wordlessly, Cora pulled the bag open and reached inside. When she withdrew her hand, she pulled out a silver lock pick, a set of pins, an open bag of bright red apples, and a piece of paper. Rumplestiltskin looked at the objects, taking them from her and putting them into a small leather bag on his back. Everything except the lock pick and the paper. He pointed at the silver instrument "I don't need that, I already have one"
"Oh" Cora caught herself in the split second before she broke out into a huge cheesy grin "Of course you do. I do apologise" This was just too easy! She put the lock pick back in the bag, but she held out the small rectangle of paper to him, this time allowing a small, devious smile to surface "But, I think you'll be needing this"
Gold looked at the paper doubtfully, and then back at Cora "What is it?"
"A receipt" she explained "For the Propofol my daughter was found with"
"Ah, I see" said the boy, and to Cora's satisfaction he took the receipt "And you...want me to sneak these" he lofted the rest of the items in his bag "Into her bedroom? Somewhere the Dean can find them and presume her guilty of insanity?"
Cora nodded, a fake smile of approval forming on her face. Of course, she had no intention of anyone finding anything from Regina's room. Her intention was to call the Dean up first thing in the morning, and tell him to search the room of the boy in front of her, where no doubt he would find the lock pick, and the items he had so foolishly taken from her. No doubt the idiotic fat man would listen to her, she had invested quite a lot of money into this school, after all.
Holding the paper between his thumb and forefinger, Gold brought it to his face. Examining it "The purchase date for the drug was quite some time ago..." he muttered, and his eyes flickered to the older woman "This isn't the first time you've been here after hours, is it, Mrs Mills?"
Cora could lie, but she knew that honesty inspired trust, and she needed Gold to trust her. Just enough to make him do her bidding so he could take the blame for Regina's suffering. Then her daughter would fall back into her arms, and her control, and the world order would be restored "No, it isn't" she answered. But all that seemed to inspirewas a huge, almost demonic grin to Gold's face.
"So...it's been you. All this time" he smirked, a chuckle escaping through his lips "And you've been using the students of the school to carry out your scheme"
Cora frowned. Why was this important? "Yes. I have"
"The apple...the poorly written news story..." Gold murmured, his Scottish accent coloured with amusement "While everyone thought crazy old Relapse Mills was loosing her mind, it was really just you, and a handful of morale-devoid teenagers" he said, his voice trailing off with wonder.
"Yes!" Cora snapped, starting to loose patience "Yes, I gave them the material's they needed to make that pathetic bus-boy think she was insane, and make her see that he would never be good enough for her! Why is this important, Gold?!"
"Oh dearie..." Gold's grin got wider, so that he was showing every one of his teeth, and his eyes glowed with anticipation in the moonlight. Taking a step forward, he moved so that they were barely an inch apart, his face very close to her's. He laughed softly through his teeth "Do you really think I'm stupid enough to accept a mission from a decrepit old witch like you?"
Cora gritted her teeth as anger flashed through her soul. Who the hell did this pre-pubescent little toad think he was dealing with? She darted out a hand, and Gold jerked back in surprise when her slender fingers delved into his pocket and pulled out the receipt, crumpling it in her hand "You know what?" she snarled viscously "I don't think I'll be needing you after all!"
Instead of seeming put out or even angry, Gold had the nerve to laugh in her face like she had just said the funniest thing on the planet, throwing his head back and cackling madly.
Then he looked back at her, his smile of humour still in place "You're right. You won't"
Cora frowned, not understanding, and Gold twisted his head to somewhere behind him and called over to a shadowed corner of the gate "I think it's time to make your appearance, dearie!"
For a few blissful moments, there was silence. That is, until she heard the slow tapping of heeled shoes moving slowly over concrete, and from the shadow's on the west side of the gate, her own daughter walked into the light, a look of anger and betrayal on her lovely face.
There was no doubt about it. She had heard everything.
Cora looked at Gold in disbelief, finally realising what had happened when she saw the way he was looking at his nails nonchalantly. He knew about this. It was all a trick. She...she had been tricked! By a teenager!
"Mother..." the sound of Regina's soft voice bade her too look at her child "How could you?"
OUAT
Cora stared at her daughter like a deer caught in headlights. Still trying to process what was happening, she was temporarily mute. But her daughter was getting more and more angry, and anger did not bring patience.
"Well?" her daughter spoke louder this time, with an undercurrent of barely suppressed anger "I'm waiting!"
Rather than responding, Cora glared at Gold, whose body language was screaming with arrogance and smugness "You did this..." she hissed, and he looked up at her, and smirked.
"I did nothing"
"Actually, it was me" another voice came out of the shadows, and Cora felt her blood boil when she turned and saw, to her fury, Daniel Hay walking towards them.
The bus-boy...
"How?" she spat as he moved over to a shaking Regina and put an arm around her shoulder, his hand folding over the side. He then turned to her.
"Ironically enough, Cora" he said, his voice hard "It was Regina who helped me work everything out" Cora stared at her daughter in disbelief. But Regina didn't notice, staring at the boy and seeming just as clueless as she was.
"I tried to talk to her this afternoon, Cora, and in the middle of her shooting me down I managed to make her drop some hints that there was someone other than me who was trying to help her, someone who had 'Always believed in her'" he shrugged complacently "After I figured that out, I started to get suspicious" he narrowed his gaze, his eyes suddenly becoming cold "After all, we both know you're not the most empathetic mother, don't we?
"But what really clinched it for me was your lap dog over there-"
"Oi!" Gold looked up from his nails to point at him warningly, and Daniel spared him an apologetic glance before revealing more of his story to a furious Cora:
"Anyway, that afternoon, Rumple came to me with an interesting proposition. You see, it seemed that someone" he squeezed Regina's shoulder "Had spilled the beans to Mr Boss about a certain collection of his, and he needed someone they wouldn't suspect to hide it. Someone like me" he gestured to himself, sweeping his free hand down his body in a movement that was almost proud "I was going to refuse, but then he told me that he knew exactly who was setting up your daughter, and that if I helped him, then he would help me expose you for the heartless witch you really are" at this, his tone carried a note of disgust, and he traced his thumb down the fabric of Regina's silver shirt "How could I say no to that?"
By this point, Cora was so angry that she wanted nothing more than to tear this peanut-earning little bastards heart from his chest and feel it beat before she crushed it in her bare hands! Her fingers even twitched at the thought, and she turned to Gold again. He winked, and she burned.
"You son of a-"
"Bitch!" a sudden, unexpected voice burst forth "You evil...soulless...terrible bitch!"
Cora swiveled her head around in amazement. Regina? What did she think she was doing?She knew better than to speak to her like that!
But when her eyes met her daughters, she saw no regret, nor any fear. Nothing but pure rage, with brown irises that were dammed with tears.
"How could you?" she said, her voice trembling with anger and betrayal "How could you?!"
"Regina, I-" Cora tried, but she seemed to be beyond listening by now.
"It was all you!" Regina's eyes were shining brighter than usual, but her voice shook from anger and hurt, and her lips spread in a bitter smile, knowing now that everything she had endured was because of her own, scheming mother "Everything I've been going through, the...the things I've heard, the apple, the article...it was you" she shook head, her smile disappearing "I can't believe it!"
"Regina" said Cora warningly, trying to reason with her child "You have to believe me, Darling, I was only doing what I thought was best for you!"
Her daughter's eyes widened, her lips parted in honest-to-God disbelief, and her eyes shone all the more brightly "How, Mother?" she demanded shakily "By making me think I was loosing my mind? By making the entire school think I was insane? By making me loose all my friends? By driving me to the point where I put a girl in hospital and nearly get expelled? By making me push away the one person I love the most?!" Regina was screaming by now, tears collecting in her eyes and damming against her irises "For Gods sakes...how was any of that best for me? Tell me!" she lurched forward like she might actually attack her, and Cora took an alarmed step back. But Daniel tightened his grip on her, not letting her move.
"Don't!" he said in her ear as she struggled, but his grip on her shoulders was too tight "Don't do it!"
"She ruined everything!" Regina screeched glaring at Cora even as tears spilled down her cheeks "Why did you do this, Mother? Tell me!"
"Because I had to make you see!" Cora shouted back, and she thought rapidly as she pointed at the bus boy that was still restraining her "I had to make you see what he really was! I had to make you see that he didn't really care for you! That he wouldn't stand by you when things got rough-"
"So this was all to make me break up with Daniel?!" Regina started clawing at the arms holding her back, becoming more wild as she became more angry, but then Daniel pressed his lips against her ear, and whispered something inaudible. The elder Mills didn't hear what he said (she was too busy imagining violent scenario's in which she could get the boy's hands off her) but whatever it was, it subdued her daughter, and she soon stopped struggling, still looking at her mother with an rage and spite she had never seen before.
Daniel sighed, gently patting Regina's shoulder before turning back to Cora, his tenderness fading when they faced each other "It's over, Cora" he stated "She knows the truth now, and pretty soon so will everyone else, too"
Despite everything, Cora couldn't help but smirk. Oh, this boy was a pain, but thank God he was such an idiot"Oh, and how do you propose to make that happen?" she chuckled, gesturing between the two meddlesome boys and her daughter "I doubt your precious headmaster will believe the word of a teenage washer-boy, and the most notorious menace on your campus"
"'Menace?'" Gold repeated, sounding insulted "Mrs Mills, do I look like I run around in a red and black t-shirt with a sling-shot in my trousers?"
Ignoring him, Cora kept her focus on the bus boy and her daughter. She expected him to look crestfallen, defeated, maybe even angry (Regina certainly did) but he looked just as cocksure as ever. He had heard what she'd said, hadn't he?
"Yeah, you're right" Daniel admitted "He might not believe what we say. But surely even you must know that you can't deny video evidence"
"What?" Cora blinked. Then, to her horror, a tall, muscular boy with sand-coloured hair and blue eyes walked out from the same shadow's Regina had, and in his hand, raised to his face was a...camera phone.
"We've recorded the whole thing, Mrs Mills" said the new boy confidently, lowering the cell phone down to his side "Your entire confession. It's officially our word against yours!"
Cora stared at them all, a new emotion combining with her anger and making her gasp. Fear. Video evidence...If anyone ever found out about this she could loose everything...
"You give that to me!" she growled, lifting an outstretched hand towards him "Now!"
The boy shook his head "Not gonna happen"
"I said give it to me!"
"No!"
"Listen, you little bas-"
"NO!" Regina screeched, and one second later she was standing in front of her, feet apart and fists clenched as though in defence. But a small, lone tear was still tracking down her face. She sniffed and wiped it away right before she spoke "They're right, Mother! It's over" she took a deep breath, drawing herself to full height with determination "You can't control me anymore, and you never will again!"
Cora laughed "Oh, won't I, dear?" folding her hands behind her back, she took a step towards her "And just how are you going to escape me, hm? You'll be home with me for three months in less than four weeks"
Her words hit home, and when Regina's stance weakened Cora took another step forward, bending her head so that she met her daughters eyes "Face it, you're stuck with me forever, Darling"
Her daughter looked away from her, swallowing hard, and a malevolent smile started to coat Cora's features. Until:
"No. She's not!"
That damned bus boy again! What the hell was he talking about now?!
In three hard steps he was beside her again, and Cora stepped away as though he were literally the revolting little slug he was. In a movement of clear defiance, he reached out his right hand and grasped Regina's left one, lacing their fingers together "She's not going to be stuck with you ever again, Cora, because you won't be getting her back at the end of this year!"
"I won't?"
"She won't?" Regina turned to him questioningly, but Daniel kept his focus on her mother.
"No, you won't. Because she's going to be living with me"
"What?!" exclaimed both Cora and Regina simultaneously, and Daniel smirked a little as he elaborated, speaking directly to the younger woman as he did.
"Why do you think I took the job at that Deli? Ever since I was kid, I've been saving so that one day, I could have a place of my own. By the time Summer comes along, I'll have enough for an apartment, and I would be honoured if you" he lifted a hand to brush a strand of hair out of Regina's stunned face, and Cora fought down the urge to snap it in half "Would come and share it with me"
Regina gasped, disbelief and incredulous hope adorning her features "Daniel..."
Cora, however, could hardly believe what she was hearing. This was preposterous! "And just what makes you think I'll allow that, young lady?!"
"There's nothing you can do to stop it" Daniel shot back "Regina's over eighteen, and so am I. Legally, we can do what we want and there's absolutely nothing" he said the word with a force that nearly startled the hard woman "You can do about it!"
Cora's hands twitched at her sides, and she turned her head to her daughter, who was watching her too, and none of the usual emotions were there. No fear, no despair, no weakness. She looked like she had on the day Cora had found out about her ridiculous relationship, and defended it against her. Strong.
And Cora knew, that nothing she could say could make that go away. But that was not going to stop her from trying!
"Regina, if you go with this boy, then that is it" she threatened, fierceness biting her words "You will be cut off completely. You will have no home with your father and me, and none of our money" she sneered at Daniel with disgust "You'll be stuck in a run-down apartment with your cheap College boyfriend, who will probably get tired of you within a week"
Daniel stiffened with anger, but he stayed by Regina's side, evidentially more controlled than she was. She didn't answer immediately, her expression unchanging. Her eyes flickered slightly, as though she was deep in thought, and Cora noticed that Daniel tightened his grip on her hand as though he was unnerved by her silence, and she felt the pleasant sensation of oncoming victory within her. She knew what was coming now, and she couldn't wait to hear her daughters heartfelt apology-
"Then that's a risk I'll just have to take"
WHAT?!
Regina stood before her mother and tightened her grip on Daniel's hand, standing beside him, shoulder to shoulder "Even if he does get tired of me, there's no way I'm ever going back to you" her face hardened "I'd rather rot in the gutter than share a house with you!"
"You stupid girl" Cora snarled "Did you not hear me? If you do this, there is nothing for you! How do you expect to keep your placement at this run-down excuse for a school without my money?"
"I'll manage!" Regina shot back determinedly. Then, she took a deep breath, calming herself as she blew it out "Now, Mother...I think it's time for you to go" she said softly. Cora raised an eyebrow, folding her hands over her chest.
"You're...sending me away?"
"Yes" Regina acknowledged "Goodbye, Mother"
The elder Mills stared at her daughter in disbelief. When had this happened? When had her meek, submissive, broken child become this headstrong? This rebellious? Damn it, she knew sending her to this school was a mistake!
And of course, now, there was nothing she could do about it. She regarded her daughter, her expression as hard as the rest of her "Fine, I will...go. But when he" she pointed to Daniel "Break's your heart again, don't expect a warm welcome when you come begging at my door!"
Leaving that to ring in Regina's ears, she turned around and prepared to leave. On her way, she caught sight of Rumplestiltskin Gold, who was by now looking extremely bored. She glared at the short, interfering bastard, and he winked at her again, making her cough in disgust. What made her ever think that he was the better option?!
"I knew I should have gone with Jefferson" she muttered, making Gold frown "Much better results with him..."
And with those being her final words, Cora Mills walked back into the shadows, back to her car, and drove off into the night, and as far away from the College as possible.
OUAT
After her Mother left, Regina lifted her free hand and lifted it over her trembling lips, breathing heavily from the exertion of her ordeal. After everything she'd heard, she could still barely believe everything that had happened. Her own mother had made her endure weeks of hell, weeks of thinking that she was going insane, and all because she didn't approve of her boyfriend. How could she? Her own mother...how could she have done that to her?! Her own mother!
"Regina?" she felt a thumb brush her cheek, and she then realised that she was crying. With watery eyes, she looked up at Daniel, and the look on his face made her want to cry all over again. There was such tenderness, such kindness...and she didn't deserve any of it.
"Daniel..." she breathed, and she lifted her hand away from her mouth to touch his cheek "I...I am so sorry!" she said, uncaring that Gold and Nolan were still very much there and seeing her at her most vulnerable. They could go to hell as far as she was concerned because dammit Daniel needed to hear this!
Daniel responded to her words with a bright, but sympathetic smile, and he untangled his right hand from her left so that he could bring both of them up to gently cup her face "Hey, it's O.k. You were going through a lot"
But Regina shook her head. Why did he always do this? "No, I-"
"Regina" he said the word softly, but there was a firmness that made her silent "It's O.k. I forgive you"
She blinked, and then swallowed "...why?"
He smiled again, as though remembering something from long ago "You forgave me" he said simply, and when she looked confused he added "For being such an idiot. For ever doubting you. At least, I hope you will" he finished nervously, clearly remembering that she hadn't actually said the words yet.
Regina chuckled, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with the trailing strands of his dark hair "Don't be an idiot, Daniel. After everything you've just done for me-"
She heard two distinct coughs behind her. She chose not to acknowledge them.
"-How could I not?"
Daniel's smile widened with happiness, until it threatened to swallow up his whole face "Great!" was all the warning he gave her before he swooped down and kissed her passionately, and Regina responded in kind, clinging to him like she never, ever, wanted to let him go.
They remained like that for quite some time, with Rumplestiltskin and James watching awkwardly from behind. Then, James moved over to the gates and bumped Rumplestiltskin's shoulder with his own "So, it's a happy ending after all, huh?"
Rumplestiltskin didn't even bother to look around "Oh, are we bonding now?"
"Uh, I just thought-"
"No" the deceptive dealer shook his head, lifting a singular finger "You thought wrong. Very wrong"
"Oh" James nodded, and then leaned back against the gates silently. Then, he pulled out his camera phone, where Cora's confession lay within, waiting to be shown to the Dean and headmaster the next morning. He looked down at it with some wonder "You know-" Rumplestiltskin groaned loudly "-it is lucky Daniel called Snow White with this yesterday, otherwise she would never have gotten to me, and she might never have gotten this evidence to clear Regina's name. You know she was at the mall when he called? She came back straightaway and got me-"
"And then we all came together and constructed this set-up. I know!" Rumplestiltskin swiveled his head sharply to James "Are you going to keep talking? Because if you are, I may need to take a sedative!"
"Uh...right" James nodded, putting the phone back in his black-trousered pocket "Sorry"
Rumplestiltskin ignored him, threading a hand into his pocket until the key's to the school gates were pulled out "Besides, I'd better head in now anyway" he added, and prepared to unlock them. His fist clenched when he felt James tap him on the shoulder "What?!"
"What about them?" James pointed to the newly reunited couple, who were still kissing hungrily. Rumplestiltskin looked around at them, and he shrugged, not really bothered with Regina's eating habits.
"I wouldn't worry about them, they'll come in when they're hungry" he said lightly, and James rolled his eyes "Now, I really must be going" Rumplestiltskin added, unlocking the gates and walking though them. When he spoke again, there was a dark tone to his voice "There's a certain Hatter I may need to take a closer look at"
James frowned, not understanding him, but he quickly shrugged it off, deciding that Gold's business was Gold's business and he really didn't want to get involved. He went through the gate too, leaving the couple behind them alone to enjoy their reunion.
In need of air, Daniel reluctantly pulled his lips away from hers, gazing into Regina's beautiful face, her skin flushed with pleasure. His fingers stroked along her skin like it was made of the finest silk, and he felt happier than he had done in a long while. To her, he said softly "I love you, Regina"
The young woman's eyes widened in surprise, but the light of happiness shone within their dark brown colouring. Drawing back her hands from his shoulders to cup his neck, she whispered back "I love you, too"
Daniel smiled broadly again, laughing in delight before stroked Regina's hair back off her face, and pulled her back in to mould her body against his for another mother defying, heart-stopping, world-shattering kiss.
I'm so happy with this chapter, seriously I had so much fun writing it. So, what do y'all think? Did ya see that coming? Did ya? The thought to make Rumple a pawn in Cora's game never entered my mind because...well...it's Rumplestiltskin, for Gods sake! And this was much more fun, anyway XD
By the way, I have a confession to make. The next chapter of Once Upon a Time: School's Out! The Third One...shall be her last. Yep, this fic is coming to an end. But don't worry, because I plan on letting her go out with a bang!
But first you have to let me know what you thought of this chapter! So please review!