Gods I'm such a Disney geek - this one is for Her Highness, Katherine, aka freifraufischer, and for my cute Satan, Sarah, my Helena sistah, aka ginaandrobbie!

DAY 3 - MOTHER KNOWS BEST

- I'm wishing for the one I love -

"Mommy?" Hazel peeked in her parents' room, a bit uncertain, standing on the doorframe.

"Yes, sweetie?" Regina's raspy voice came from the bed. She had gotten sick – a mild flu, but mixed up with a cold and a serious headache which prevented her from doing… well, everything.

"Can I come in?" the girl whispered.

"Of course," smiled her mother, shifting a little under the blankets. "Come here, I'm not contagious anymore"

"But you said to Aunt Emma not to come here"

"That's because she has to avoid getting sick, baby," explained Regina. "It could hurt the little one in her tummy"

"Ah" nodded Hazel, and she climbed the bed, holding something in her hand.

"What's that?" asked Regina, without being able to get a look on the object – the curtains were still closed and the room was submerged in a low light. Hazel bit her lower lip and her mother smiled – she was so similar to her father when she did that move.

"Promise me you won't be mad" muttered the girl.

"Why would I be mad?" asked her mother, concerned. "Have you done something wrong?"

"Well, I was at Ella's house to play with Alex, yesterday," explained Hazel. "And she has this collection of Disney movies…"

"And?" smiled Regina. "You haven't stolen a movie, have you?"

"No" Hazel shook her head, without any trace of happiness on her face. "I was looking the covers of the movies and I noticed she had one that I haven't seen" she said quickly. "And I borrowed it, but I… wanted to ask you if it's okay… if we could watch it together" she handed her the case.

Regina read the title, inclining it towards the lamp on the night table.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Her animated self was watching her from the cover, hands lifted, holding a wooden box, meant to host a beating heart. She felt her own heart accelerate as she passed a thumb over the figures on the case, fingers pressed on the smooth plastic.

Regina took a deep breath and looked at Hazel, who was scrutinizing her face, deeply worried. She managed to hide her frown and to put up a smile.

"Sure, we'll watch it" she answered, and Hazel's face immediately relaxed. "But when I'll feel better, okay?"

"Thank you" the girl placed a kiss on her cheek and took the box from her hand. As she descended the bed and approached the door, Regina called her. "Oh, Hazel?"

She turned, red curls swinging in the air, and looked at her.

"Could you please ask your father to come here, if he's not busy?"

"Sure," she answered, and exited the room, jumping down the steps of the staircase.

Regina turned her back to the door and curled up in the bed, staring into space and holding the battered tissue she had been using for the past hour. Sure, Hazel did know about her past. But it was different: it was listening to Henry while he read her the story book, when words as "The Evil Queen slaughtered a village" or "The Evil Queen ripped out all the hearts of the peasants who had helped Snow White" were nothing more than fading images in her brain, ready to be replaced by "And Mom saved everyone by sacrificing herself" or "And the Queen gave up her son to guarantee the salvation of her people".

A knock at the door startled her and she jumped a little, turning her face towards the source of the noise.

"Regina?" whispered Robin, approaching the bed. "Hazel says you wanted to see me? Do you need anything?"

"Come here" she said, patting the mattress beside her, and he kicked off his shoes to lie down next to her.

"What is it?" he asked.

She didn't answer, but took his hand, and he lifted it to cup her cheek. She closed her eyes, needing to feel the contact, and she spoke. "Hazel asked to watch… with me… Snow White, the Disney movie" she sighed. Robin let out a breath, and watched her as she opened her eyes, diverting her gaze down.

"Regina…" he started, but she shook her head. "I told her I'll do it" she said, and he tilted his head, concerned.

"Are you sure? If you don't feel up to it, I could watch it with her" he offered.

"No, I'm sure" she stated. "And I was thinking about… asking Snow to watch it with us too"

"Well, that was unexpected" he said, stroking her cheek. "You're so brave, my love" he added, his eyes shining with pride.

"I feel terrified, Robin," she confessed, her heart racing, and she suddenly grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers.

"Hazel is smart, she'll understand," he said firmly.

"I hope so" Regina murmured.

Two days later, the queen was settled on the sofa, buried under a fluffy cover – a mocking gift from Emma – and surrounded by all sorts of healing tools: tissues, a thermometer and a glass full of orange juice with a box of pills beside it. Hazel was fidgeting with the DVD reader, as Snow entered the room with a worried smile on her face.

"Good morning, ladies," she greeted, and Hazel immediately flew to hug her. She exchanged a look with Regina from above the girl's head – they had already talked about it, but still, both women were worried about that afternoon.

"Okay, Neal and I are going to take a walk with David" Robin said, and he took a beaming child in his arms. "Call me if you need anything, love," he said to Regina, leaning in to place a kiss on the crown of her head. He squeezed her shoulder and exited, leaving the three women to their movie. Hazel pressed play and she jumped happily on the sofa between Snow and her mother, oblivious of the seriousness of the moment. The white castle appeared on screen, and the Evil Queen was in front of her mirror, asking about the fairest of them all.

"That would be you, mommy?" whispered Hazel, and Regina felt her heart race. Maybe this isn't a good idea. She felt a gentle pressure on her shoulder – Snow had extended her arm to reach her, and she glanced at her step-daughter.

"I suppose so, baby," she answered, fidgeting with the blanket.

Famed is thy beauty, majesty. But hold, a lovely maid I see. Rags cannot hide her gentle grace. Alas, she is more fair than thee.
Alas for her! Reveal her name.
Lips red as the rose. Hair black as ebony. Skin white as snow.
Snow White!

The screen showed an animated version of Snow, red ribbon on her hair, next to the wishing well.

"They don't look like you" protested Hazel, as the girl on screen started to sing. "You're prettier than the characters!"

"Well, thank you, little one," said Snow. "To be fair, in our version I had long hair, and you know what?"

"What?" asked the girl, glancing at her aunt.

"The movie is wrong, because your mom truly was the fairest of them all" she answered, as if she was telling a secret. Regina lifted the corner of her lips, hiding a smile. Hazel didn't seem to concentrate on her evil self, instead, she was listing all the differences between reality and fantasy.

Charming appeared on screen, and she couldn't resist: "Snow, I think you and your husband should grace us with your version of this song, someday"

I'm wishing (I'm wishing)
for the one I love
to find me

"Thanks, I'll pass" shivered her step daughter. "I don't understand why they are singing so much…"

"To torture me, probably," muttered Regina.

Take her far into the forest, said the queen to the huntsman. Find some secluded glade where she can pick wildflowers.
Yes, your majesty.
And there, my faithful huntsman, you will kill her!
But, your majesty, the little princess!
Silence! You know the penalty if you fail.
Yes, your majesty.
But to make doubly sure... you do not fail; bring back her heart... in this.

"You had a huntsman too, right?" asked Hazel, and memories of Graham flashed in her mind, his beating heart in her palm…

"Yes" she breathed, avoiding Snow's gaze.

The Snow on screen was running through the forest, meeting the dwarves, as Regina, her eyes closed, remembered her darkest times, the vault full of hearts, the dagger she had given to Graham to rip out Snow's heart, her rage and her despair, and Sidney, always watching her…

"Regina?" Snow's voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she slammed her eyes open. Her head turned to meet her gaze, the younger woman staring at her. "Are you sure about this?" Snow whispered above Hazel's head.

"I promised," Regina motioned towards the little girl. Snow nodded, and reached for her hand, and she took it gratefully.

Then it wasn't that bad. They continued to watch as Snow White cleaned the house, the dwarves accepting her as a part of her family, and Regina even managed to sneak in some comments – You see, Hazel, your aunt was pretty badass, but those dwarves surely were irritating – until they arrived to the infamous scene of the poisoned apple.

There must be something your little heart desires. Perhaps there's someone you love.
Well, there is someone.
I thought so. I thought so. Old granny knows a young girl's heart. Now, take the apple, dearie, and make a wish.

She felt Snow's hand tighten around hers – they both held their breath, remembering, as the old hag gave the apple to the girl and she bit it.

"But this isn't what happened" protested Hazel, and Regina felt her heart sink.

"What do you mean?" she asked. "I thought you read the story book, this is what happened"

"I mean that the real story was more romantic, because you had Uncle David prisoner, and she saved his life!" exclaimed Hazel. "This Snow in the movie is stupid, she took an apple from a stranger!"

Snow laughed, and Regina gave her a little smile. "You know, your daughter is right, madam mayor"

The old woman on screen died, and Hazel turned on the sofa to climb in her mother's lap. "This movie was dumb" she said, an adorable pout on her face. "I can't believe Ella brought it to Alex!"

"Maybe one day you could show her the story book" suggested her mother. "Or ask your uncle if he sings one of these lovely songs"

"Who's singing?" asked David, entering in that moment with Robin and Neal.

"Oh my god" Snow covered her forehead with a hand. "I absolutely forbid it" she said, shaking her head.

"We could put your restriction between the town's laws" suggested Regina, smiling at Robin. He seemed relieved, and he moved closer to kiss her head.

"Everything all right?" he murmured, and she looked at him, nodding.

"Yes" she answered, and she meant it.