Author's note: Sorry it took me so long to post an update. The holidays kept me quite busy, but I am happy to give you this latest chapter. I am having a blast writing this little story, and I hope you are enjoying it too. Chapter 13 will be posted shortly. Thank you for reading!

Chapter 12: The Mother

Regina stood waiting for her mother to appear in the great hall of Prince Charming and Snow White's palace. She continually swept the enormous room with her eyes, unsure how and where Cora would choose to appear. Before long a thin stream of purple smoke began flowing into the room through the broken window on the West wall. The smoke trickled down the gray stone wall to the floor and continued in a steady stream toward the center of the room, about 20 feet from Regina. Once it reached this point the smoke began to swirl, slowly rising until it was as tall as a person. After all the smoke had gathered in the swirling funnel it began to dissolve, and magically Cora appeared before her daughter.

Lillian knew her mother wanted her to stay out of sight, but she couldn't stand not knowing what was happening. She crept as close to the edge of the corner as she dared and peeked with one eye. She marveled at the flowing purple smoke and the woman who conjured it. Her grandmother certainly did like a dramatic entrance.

Cora's eyes were focused on her daughter, and Regina stared right back; her face was the polished emotionless mask she had trained herself to wear as Mayor. Cora gave a quick smile before she finally spoke, "Regina, I didn't expect to see you here." Her tone was surprisingly casual, as if mother and daughter had simply bumped into each other at a shop.

"Hello, mother," Regina responded keeping her voice even and cool.

Cora seemed genuinely happy to see her daughter. "You look so...different," she said, her smile growing wider as she inspected Regina's unfamiliar clothing. "I guess this is the fashion in Storybrooke. I'm afraid I'll be a bit over dressed," she looked down at her own floor length gown and then back up at her daughter. "I can't wait to see it, and my grandson of course."

Regina's face remained unchanged. She was familiar with the almost sickly sweet tone her mother was using. It was the same tone she had used when Regina was young; the tone she used to draw her daughter in and make her feel like she truly cared, only to then manipulate her into doing something she didn't want to do. Regina wasn't fooled by her mother's attempt to act like this was a happy reunion, and she refused to play her game. "You're not going to Storybrooke."

Cora shook her head slightly, as if she hadn't heard Regina right. "I'm not?"

"No." Cora's smile faded at Regina's flat response, her eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened. She could see Regina was not going to play along.

"You don't seem pleased to see me dear." When Regina didn't respond Cora spoke again, "You're here to stop me from going through the portal?"

"Yes, I am. I'm not going to let you hurt anyone."

"Who said anything about hurting anyone? I'm only here to help you." Cora slipped back into the innocent tone she was using before.

Regina was skeptical, "Help me?"

"I know what has happened Regina." Cora took a step closer to her daughter. "I know your curse is broken. I know you lost your power and your control over the people." She took another step, trying to close the gap between them. "I can help you get it all back."

Regina took a step back, increasing the distance between them again. "I don't need your help. I don't want power over them, I don't want any of it."

"So you've gone from cursing them to being their defender? That's quite the change." She decided to push her daughter harder. "What about your son? I know you've lost him to his real mother."

Regina shook her head and smiled, "I haven't lost Henry. I have him now in a way I never had him before. And it's because I let go of the power and magic."

Cora wasn't convinced. "I know you Regina. I know you could never walk away from all that."

"I can and I have."

Lillian smiled, she was proud of her mother for standing her ground. Cora was getting frustrated, "You're blinded by your loss! Are you willing to just throw away what I worked for a lifetime to give you, and what you've worked for another lifetime to gain?"

"What you gave me?" Regina was growing tired of this game. "You gave me nothing! All you ever did was take things from me: my freedom, my happiness, and the only man I ever loved."

"Oh, don't tell me you're still mourning over that stable boy." She spit those last two words out like they were disgusting to her.

The disrespect her mother showed for her true love's memory made Regina furious. "His name is Daniel, and I will NEVER forgive what you did!"

Lillian could feel the tension rising, she grew more anxious helplessly watching things escalate. Cora was angry at her daughter's ingratitude. "I did what I did to protect you. To turn you into something great. I made you Queen!"

Here it was, the heart of the issue between them, Regina said what she had wanted to say to her mother for years, "You controlled me and manipulated me into becoming something I never wanted to be. You turned me into a monster, just like you!"

Cora's face hardened and she abandoned any hope she had of joining forces with her daughter. She hadn't forgotten the fact that Regina had banished her to Wonderland and then sent Hook to kill her. She had intended to take her revenge on her daughter when Hook took her to Regina's palace, but when she heard a grieving Regina confess that she loved her, her heart softened. Cora knew that Regina's curse would be broken, and she saw an opportunity to reunite with her daughter, who would be devastated and eagerly welcome her mother's help, when that happened. She had been waiting for this moment for 28 years, and now that it was here Regina wanted nothing to do with her.

Fine, Cora thought. Then I'll get my revenge NOW!

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Snow had spent the last ten minutes pacing around the vault. Finally she couldn't stand it any longer. She stopped in her tracks and quickly turned around to address the others, "I'm not waiting any more! We're going in there."

Emma stood up and crossed the room to where her mother stood. "I think you're right." She put her hand on Snow's shoulder. "I'll go ."

Snow shook her head quickly, "Absolutely not! She is my sister, I am going in there." She took a step toward the portal but Emma blocked her path.

"I don't think you going in there with a hot head to yell at Regina is going to accomplish anything. Let me handle this." Emma looked to her father for backup. He immediately stepped in and gently took his wife by the shoulders while standing behind her.

"Emma is right," he soothed. "She'll bring Lillian back in no time." Snow sighed and consented to wait on this side of the portal.

Emma turned to face Henry, "I'll check on your mom too, ok?"

Henry smiled and nodded, "Thanks." She returned his smile and tousled his hair playfully before she stepped into the portal.

Emma suddenly appeared in Fairytale Land. Having been through the portal before she was able to tuck and roll upon entry, avoiding any injury like what had happened to Lillian. She saw Cora and Regina facing off, and heard them arguing. It sounded like they were talking about Daniel, the man Regina had been in love with.

Regina appeared to be unharmed so she quickly scanned the room until she saw Lillian in the corner. Neither of the women had noticed Emma's arrival, the argument was obviously intensifying and Lillian peeked around the corner as much as she dared, anxiously watching her mother.

Emma knew it wouldn't be long before Cora spotted her so she had to act fast. She whispered Lillian's name as loudly as she dared, trying to get the girl's attention but she was completely focused on Regina and Cora. When that didn't work Emma picked up some small fragments of brick from a crumbled wall and tossed one in Lillian's direction. After repeating this a few times the girl finally looked over and saw Emma. Her eyes grew wide and she motioned for Emma to go back through the portal. Emma likewise motioned for Lillian to come with her, neither one conceded. As she knew would happen eventually, the arguing stopped and Emma heard Cora ask, "Who is that?" She had been discovered, it was now or never. She held out her hand to the girl and said, "Lillian, come back with me right now." Regina turned around and felt her heart sink as she realized her daughter would no longer be hidden from her mother.

Lillian shook her head and retreated farther into her corner, "No, I won't leave her!"

Emma started to tell Lillian to come again when Cora interrupted furiously, "You!" She recognized Emma from their encounters when she and Snow had been stuck in Fairytale Land. Emma looked at Cora and then back at Lillian trying to urge her to come back through the portal.

Cora held up her right hand, drew back her arm and hurled a fireball at Emma. Regina quickly raised her left hand and blocked her mother's spell by casting a shield charm. She looked back over her right shoulder and scowled at Emma before knocking her off her feet and back through the portal with a wave of her right hand. She did this to protect Emma, but it also gave her some satisfaction. That's for letting Lillian out of your sights, Sheriff, she thought.

Emma came flying through the portal into Regina's vault and landed flat on her back. The force of her fall knocked the wind out of her and it was several seconds before she was able to draw a breath. Her parents and son hovered around her, clearly as surprised as she was to see her come back through the portal that way. They all spoke at once asking questions, "Emma are you alright?" "What happened?" "Where is Lillian?"

Emma drew another breath and rose slowly to her feet, with her father's help. "Regina knocked me back through." She coughed, still struggling to breathe normally. "Cora is there, they were arguing, but Regina is fine." Henry let out a small sigh of relief, his mother was alive. Snow didn't share his relief yet, "What about Lillian? Is she alright?"

"Yes, she is. But she wouldn't come with me."

Snow's face showed her concern at receiving this news. How could they get her back if she didn't want to come?

Charming was clearly thinking the same thing and wanted to figure out a plan,"Well, what are we going to do?"

Emma shook her head, "I don't know."

They all sat in silence, trying to think of something. Snow looked up at her husband and daughter, there was only one person who could help them, "Rumplestiltskin."

Charming shook his head, "We already talked to him, he's not interested in helping Regina."

Snow wasn't willing to give up on the idea. "But this isn't just about Regina anymore, it's about Lillian too."

"Why would that make any difference to him?" Emma wasn't so sure they should even tell Gold about Lillian, after all Regina had warned about keeping it from him.

"Then I'll make a deal with him." Snow had done this very thing several times, she knew Rumplestiltskin might change his mind for the right price.

"You're willing to do that?" Emma asked.

Snow looked her daughter in the eyes and responded confidently, "For my sister? Yes, I am."

Even though Emma had witnessed her mother's selfless nature first hand and heard the stories of similar accounts in Fairytale Land she still marveled at her willingness to do whatever it took to help the people she loved. And even more amazing was the fact that Snow had only know Lillan for a few hours and yet she loved her enough to make a deal with Gold to help her. She felt incredibly proud to be the daughter of such a woman.

There was no argument. Each of them knew Snow was right, Rumplestiltskin was their only hope.

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The bell on the door to Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop tinkled lightly as the group hurried inside. Mr. Gold stood behind one of the shop's many display cases examining an old trinket. He casually looked up from his work as though he had been expecting them, breathless and anxious as they were.

"The whole Charming clan," he mused in his playful trill. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Emma cut right to the chase, "We need your help with Cora."

"Ah, you need a referee for the Mills family reunion. Like I said before, not interested." Gold resumed his work, ignoring their continued presence in his shop.

Snow took over, "I know you don't care about helping Regina but she's not the only one in danger. My sister is there too."

Gold froze. He let Snow's last comment linger in the air for a moment before repeating it, asking for more information. "Your sister?"

"Yes, Regina has a daughter." Snow moved closer to him, detecting his interest. "She went through the portal to be with her mother and she won't come back without her."

Gold picked up a cloth and began polishing the object in his hand. The gears in his head were spinning quickly, putting together the big picture from what Snow had just told him. He couldn't help but be intrigued by this girl's interesting lineage: the daughter of Regina and King Leopold, sister to Snow White. The potential for untapped power was immense; perhaps power he could find a way to exploit, should he decide to help save her. Plus he always enjoyed having Regina in his debt, which of course she would be, if he intervened.

"Please, you have to help us." The desperation in Snow's voice convinced him he could secure the oportunity to at least investigate this potential asset.

He was careful not to appear too eager. "As interesting as this information is, I'm just not sure it's worth my trouble."

Snow was ready. "I'll make a deal with you."

"What exactly did you have in mind, your Highness?"

"Name your price." Just what he wanted to hear.

"Tell me her name," he said quietly.

They had been here before, Rumplestiltskin and Snow, but back then the name in question was Emma's. Snow knew that once he knew your name Rumplestiltskin could have power over you. She hesitated, but ultimately decided there was no other way to help her sister. "It's Lillian," she replied.

"Lillian. What a lovely name." Rumplestiltskin paused for a moment, as if he were still making up his mind. "Very well then," he responded lightly, "show me to the portal."

He started walking toward the door when Emma spoke up, "Hang on a sec. Why is knowing about Lillian enough to change your mind?"

Just as Regina had been, Gold was surprised at Emma's perceptive nature. He turned to face her and responded with a playful jab at Charming and Snow, "Let's just say...I'm invested in her future."