I don't own anything.
I know I promised some SwanQueen elements but I did not manage to involve Emma. I think I'm going to save this for the end of the story as some kind of view in the future.
Oh and by the way in this story Neal is still alive ;)
Please read and review!
"I agree, dear." Rumple said and motioned towards the couch. The women followed his suggestion and sat down next to each other on the couch. Rumple had a seat across from them in the armchair.
"Why did you bring mother back?" Regina started the conversation. Rumple took a deep breath before he answered.
"You see after I had figured out that Zelena had to be my own flesh and blood I told Belle because sooner or later she'd find out anyway. She insisted that I had to do something; I was supposed to take that revelation as a starting-point to change my life. I agreed and because I have so many things to make up for I wanted to do something that you would appreciate. I also figured that regarding the way you, Cora, looked at Regina before your death you were not a threat anymore. Bringing your mother back, Regina, by the way was not only meant to be some kind of present to your sister but to you as well because I caused you a lot of misery too."
"So I'm a present?" Cora asked. She raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"You know what I mean." Rumple replied grumpily.
"Of course I do"
With the intention of not attracting any attention Regina cuddled closer to her mother. Cora laid her arm around Regina's waist and pulled her daughter closer. Regina rested her head on Cora's shoulder. Zelena looked at her mother and sister and suddenly hoped that one day she could feel the same love for her mother than her sister.
"And that's it? You might understand that I doubt that the Dark One changes from one day to the other. So what's the real reason?" Zelena tried not to fall for Rumpelstiltskin's calm voice. Many years ago she had thought that she was in love with this man but luckily she had figured out that the feeling she thought was love was in fact just the relief that someone put faith in her and her abilities.
"I know and understand that you cannot trust me, not yet, anyway. I just hope that one day we can find a common ground and be a family. It might sound cheesy but I'm not the same man I was, it is probably safe to say that everyone in this room has changed a lot. I've found my true love and I'll never let her go again. To her, Belle, it is important that I come to peace with my past and make up for my wrongdoings and she is right. That's why I brought Cora back. I know that back when I was your teacher you looked up at me and I disappointed you. I made you feel as if you were worth nothing and chose Regina over you. By doing so I caused you and your sister a lot of misery. I am sorry." Rumpelstiltskin explained and Cora nodded slowly. All three of them looked at Zelena to see how she would react. Zelena's face was unreadable and she decided not to reply to Rumple's explanation. Instead she changed the topic.
"If you had known about my mother's pregnancy would you have encouraged her to…get rid of me?" Zelena asked for the first time in her conversation with her father sounding insecure and vulnerable. Rumple was silent while he thought about an honest but not too frank answer.
"You know that I was far from being perfect and I guess my priorities were different. I don't know if you know but I have a son, his name is Neal. My main goal as the Dark One was to find a way to get him back after he had fallen through a portal. That's why I needed someone to enact the curse. I love my son so to say that I was generally opposed to children or the concept of family is wrong. But as the Dark One I was so focused on my son that I was not willing to let a new chance at family in my life. I did not want to commit myself to your mother and I think that I would not have liked the idea of another child in that time. So today I am really happy that I did not know." Rumple said and hoped he had not triggered any further waves of envy but Zelena seemed pretty calm.
"I appreciate your honest answer." Zelena was truly surprised at Rumpelstiltskin's honesty. Regina reached over and took Zelena's hand in her own and squeezed reassuringly. Zelena smiled at her sister showing her that she was handling the revelations well.
"So what is going to happen now?" Regina asked and looked back and forth between her mother and her former mentor.
"I suggest that we all go back to town now and resume our normal lives. We could schedule a fixed day in the week that we use to meet and do something together. What do you think?" Rumpel suggested and looked expectantly at the three women. Cora and Regina smiled approvingly and also Zelena nodded.
"Mother if you want you can stay with me." Regina offered and as soon as she saw sadness flickering across her sister's face she extended her offer. "Zelena, of course you are welcome as well. I guess it's not very comfortable in that old farmhouse so far away from everyone else."
"Thank you" Zelena smiled gratefully.
"Then it's settled. Let's go."
The three of them left the hut and Rumple took them back to town with his car. When he pulled up to the driveway of Regina's mansion they all said goodbye and agreed to meet again on Wednesday for lunch at Granny's. For the first time in years Zelena felt hope- hope that she could have a family and find a happy ending.