Regina wakes up unable to open her eyes— they were swollen from all the crying she did last night. She puts extra strength in trying to keep them open up but no matter what she does they feel as if they were to about drop on the floor. She runs back to her bathroom glancing at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and red but that wasn't something that a little concealer couldn't fix.
Stepping outside of her bedroom, she's dressed for the day already hid any evidence of last night. She scans the room for any sign of her mother but she only finds her father reading the newspaper with his morning coffee.
"Buenos dias, Mija" Henry greets.
"Morning, Daddy," she returns a little hesitant.
Her eyes scans around the room trying to find her mother.
"Don't bother sweetheart. Tu madre salió a noche. She said that she'll be staying at Helena's for awhile."
She lets out a breath that she didn't even know she was holding in. "Oh. But what about our flight?" she asks.
"Your mother is old enough to know what she's doing so don't worry. As for us, we're still going back to the U.S, so if you want to see your friend again to say goodbye then you should do it quickly. You still need to pack." Her father was never the best at comfort, but he tries.
"I'll be alright. I don't even know if he's really my friend anyways."
Weeks pass and Cora was having the best time of her life with Helena. She tried her best to get to know the child she lost.
She was quite pleased to know that many things that Zelena used to like, Helena still likes. How she wouldn't eat pasta if it had any sausage in it but she would gladly accept extra servings of mushrooms. How she would refuse to let anyone fix her hair and would extremely get mad for touching her hair.
Cora was learning every inch of her daughter. She was getting to know her again. She realized that Helena has grown into a chemist major but she has this weird liking for monkeys. "That's why her first boyfriend looked like one." Diana once joked. That Cora chuckled to whole heartedly.
For the first time in a long time, she felt whole and complete. The missing piece of her was pieced back and the hole in heart was filled again. It was truly a wonderful time but the time for her to face reality and go back to the States came shortly. She knew that she it was never going to last forever, but she sure as hell cherished every single moment of it.
Cora slowly folds her clothes on the bed, packing it inside her suitcase.
"So, it's really your last night." A soft voice utters from the door.
Cora recognizing the voice releases a deep sigh, "It is." she responds solemnly.
Helena walks forward, sinking on the open space on the bed. "I'm going to miss you." she expresses.
Cora walks towards her daughter and occupies the space next to her. Softly she pushes the stray soft orange-golden curls away from her daughter's face. "You really are beautiful, much more beautiful than I could've ever imagined."
Helena takes Cora's hands and gives her a soft smile. Despite not really remembering Cora as a mother, she knew that she was a part of her life once and she know that she wants her to be a part of her life forever.
"I know that I came here and I practically ruined the life that you were accustomed to, and I don't expect you to come home with me because it's evident that this is your home." Cora places both of her second hand on top of Helena's and meets her eyes as if she were pleading. "I mean, at first yes I wanted you to be mine no matter how selfish it may be. But now, all I want is for you to live a happy life and for to be somewhat part of that life." Tears start to prickle in both of their eyes. "I just want you to let me in your heart even if it's just a tiny part."
And with that said Helena quickly grasp Cora in a hug. She's made a decision. She's going to the US with Cora.
Regina sits on the rooftop of an abandoned building, opening her second` bottle of beer.
"That's really how you're going to spend your birthday Love, drinking? A bit pathetic, don't you think?" a scruffy voice announces out in the corner.
"Shut up KIllian. What are you even doing here?" She answers a bit annoyed..
"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?"
Regina and Killian were best friends. Back when they were dating in middle school, the main foundation of being together was finding common ground in hurt and comfort.
When they met, they were both in a terrible place in life. They were dealing with being a teen while having a complicated home setting.
When they met, Killian's parents finalized their divorce before beginning middle school. He drove his anger towards himself until he discovered that his father had cheated on her mother. When he hated his father, he also learned that when his mother found out, she did the exact same and cheated with a coworker. His life was completely ran by his anger and pain.
Regina was on a similar boat. At the time they met, she felt nothing but emptiness and hurt. She's never really felt anything but loneliness. She wanted love and understanding but no one understood her enough to give her the right one.
So one day when she was crying out for help, Killian answered.
But, like everything else in Regina's life though, nothing stays for very long. Once they stepped into high school and he met Emma, she was instantly pushed as a third wheel, and was eventually demoted to an outcast. She understood then because they actually liked each other. Whatever Emma gave him, even if they were the on again-off again type, she could never give so she wasn't going to be selfish. After a short while their communication decreased and decreased to Hi's and Hello's at the hallway.
Killian walks over and sits next to Regina, "you're still my friend Regina." He puts an arm around her and grabs a bottle of beer. "And plus, no one should spend their birthday alone."
Regina's eyebrows arches up giving him a pointed look. "You're one to talk."
"Mine is different." He blatantly states. He notices Regina's solemn expression after he takes a swig of his beer.
She rolls her eyes at his persistence. "Why are you here anyways?" Regina asks.
Killian releases a deep sigh, "Emma and I broke up around three weeks ago and I don't know what to do anymore?."
"You'll be chasing her like a love sick puppy, soon enough."
He chuckles to himself at how sad his relationship was. "So..." he trails trying to change the subject, "why don't you tell me why it looks like you're mourning someone's death instead of celebrating your life."
She chuckles dryly, "you know, you can't really celebrate someone's life when that person died inside a long time ago."
He lets out an understanding sigh, "Why don't you tell me what's going on, maybe I can help."
"You can't." she mutters.
"I'll be the judge of that."
"It's Zelena," she confesses.
Killian only nods in understanding and waits for her to go on.
"We found her," she continues.
Regina finishes her bottle of beer and she reaches over to grab another one. After taking a few more swigs of the bottle, she finally confides everything to Killian and how she truly felt once she was found. Her mouth was in rambles and her mind was overflowing, but she still got the point across. The truth was, no matter how much she tried to be happy she couldn't.
"Did you know that I was the one that encouraged Daddy to help Mother find her. I told myself that I did it because I saw how devastated Mother was. I did it because I wanted the guilt to go away and I thought it would change the way I felt." Tears started to form in her eyes and slowly fall onto her cheeks when she couldn't hold it in anymore. "I wanted to change my feelings so badly."
"But?" He asks.
"It never did." She drops her head onto her palms sobbing. "Why am I such a bad person Killian?"
"Hey, hey." He picks up her face to face him. "You're not."
She stares at his eyes, "But I am. I was happy that she didn't want to come. What person would want that for her family."
Their faces were merely only inches away. "I know you too well, you're not a bad person, Regina," he pushes a stray hair behind her ear. They pause for a couple of seconds just staring at each other.
Their faces get closer and closer until he covered her mouth with his. She responds immediately, surprising even herself. He tastes tentatively with his tongue, and Regina opens her mouth desperately with a low moan.
Suddenly, Killian pushes away and jumps away shaking his head. "I'm sorry, Regina," he says in a strangled voice. "I don't know what came over me. I didn't mean to take advantage."
"It's okay," She says looking at the unopened beer bottles. "Why don't we just continue to celebrate, yeah?"
Killian lets out a smirk and hands her another bottle.
It was a little over eight o'clock and the wind was slowly seeping through her jacket. Her head was pounding as from the alcohol as she fiddles with her house keys. As she thanks Killian for driving her home in her head, the door bursts open.
"Regina!"
"Mother!" She greets with a smile. Maybe today was worth celebrating after all. Her mother had came back just in time. "You're back."
"I am," Cora replies nonchalantly.
Regina jumps into her mother's arms. "I'm sorry, Mom. I was just so emotional. I shouldn't have blurted those out." Because she didn't mean to blurt them out and that's what she's really sorry for but she knows that she will never apologizing for anything that she said back then because they were all true.
Cora rubs Regina's back softly. "Me too, sweetheart. I didn't mean to burst."
Regina lifts up her head from her mother's chest smiling.
"Come on," she ushers insides excitedly "I have a surprise for you."
"Really?" Regina asks, her eyes astonished.
She quickly runs inside to the white polished and modern looking living room. Her heart is pounding fevertedly but the minute she saw her surprise her smile faltered.
"Regina," Cora calls behind her. "Your sister decided that she'd live with us. Isn't it great?" Cora moves to the side of Helena hugging her tightly. "Oh, I can't wait to show you around sweetheart."
"I think we should all celebrate Zelena, today." Henry exclaims joining the family reunion.
Regina stands in silent neither expressing the same excitement as her parents nor the disappointment brewing inside. Why am I even still surprised?
A sudden ring from the doorbell erupts then a loud "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINA!" echoes throughout the white painted walls.
Ushered by one of the family's house helps comes Belle and Emma holding bags of gifts, Mary Margaret with flowers, and David with balloons.
In the back a loss Helena watch the moment play out while Henry and Cora look at each other in disarray.
"Is it her birthday?" Cora mouths.
"I thought it was next week." Henry responds with uncertainty.
"You didn't think we'd forgotten now, did you?" Emma winks at her setting the gifts on the floor to hug her followed by Belle.
Mary Margaret then quickly pushes the flowers to Regina and hugs her tightly, slightly making Regina stumble a bit. "Happy Birthday, Queenie!" She hollers.
David gives Regina a sly smirk as he pushes his hand forward for Regina to accept the balloons. He follows everyone else on hugging Regina but when he releases her, she was met with a frown. "We would've given you these earlier but we couldn't find you anywhere."
"Yeah Regina, where were you earlier?" Belle follows up.
"I-" she pauses, was sulking in my own self pity leading to a heated and desperate make out sessions with one of my best friend slash my other best friend's ex-boyfriend. "I just needed to step out for awhile."
"You ditched school?" her Mother asks sternly.
"I did." Regina replies coldly.
Cora opens her mouth to respond to her attitude but Henry pulls Cora back telling her this is not the time; especially since they've forgotten the birth of their own child.
Regina pulls back from all the hugs and excitement. "I'm actually really tired." she expresses again. "Why don't we continue all of this on another day. When I don't feel like shit." she continues lifting her lips into best smile she can form.
All of them agrees and bid their goodbyes to the Mills'.
Once the door was shut again, she makes her track again back into her room.
"Regina," her parents call. "We didn't know it was February 1st already. We thought we still had a couple more days."
Regina could only nod. She didn't know if she was hurt or disappointed.
"Why don't we still go out tonight." Henry responds trying to make his family happy. "We can have a double celebration for both our girls."
Regina huffs in frustration, " I don't want to."
Cora was about to lose her calm. "Young lady, we did not raise you to be rude like this."
Regina rolls her eyes as she was making her way up the stairs, "because you didn't raise me at all." she mumbles under her breath.
Cora obviously heard her say something but not audibly clear because she has Regina repeating what she just said.
"I said I have no desire to celebrate my birthday because I don't care about them anymore." She smiles mockingly. "And second, I'm drunk with a throbbing headache, okay? I ditched school today and had a heavy drinking session. So mother, if you don't mind I would like to rest."
Her words cut deep into Henry's heart. He could see past his little princess' mask and routine. Cora may think this is all just an act but he knows that she's self destructing. He's failed her now too.
Once Regina slumps onto her bed, her phone pings.
"Wanna escape this world for the night?" She reads a text message from Killian.
"Absolutely! ;)" She replies quickly.
As she makes her way down the stairs in a new pair of clothing. She has a black cut off shorts paired with a white crop top. Her make-up was dark, but not too dark. She then pops on a medium sized hoop earrings and pulls her hair up in a tight ponytail.
"Where are you going?" She hears behind her.
Regina swallows hard. "Fuck" she whispers to herself.
She turns around to find Helena with her arm across as if she was her mother. "I'm going to get my car. I left it earlier when my friend drove me home."
"Looking like that?" Helena calls her out.
Regina shrugs her shoulder and walks out of the house.
Thoughts?
So, what do you guys think Regina is going to do with Killian? (If you're reading this for OQ don't worry Robbie will be back.)
A/N: I don't know if I made Regina a bit too depressed that I originally had planned. So if you want to lighten her up, please tell me on the review or DMs. Because I don't know whether to make it darker or lighter.