Warning: Attempt suicide-kinda
Chapter 26: Reflection
Dr. Whale wanted Mandy to stay longer but she insisted on going home. The hospital was too much of a reminder of her loss. He released her the next day with an antibiotic to prevent infection. Mandy couldn't wait to get home, in her own room, her own bed. She was still in pain from her injuries not to mention the miscarriage procedure she had done. Regina and Cora were constantly checking on her, making sure she was alright. She knew they meant well but she just wanted to be alone.
She went to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She turned the tub faucet on and waited for it to fill up. She couldn't wait to get a bath; she hated smelling like a hospital. Mandy slipped off her clothes and stepped into the tub, the hot water warming her skin but also making her wince in pain. The water burned her cuts as she sunk deeper into the water. She quickly washed her hair and body and lied down in the water. She wanted to be with Peter and their baby. She would be out of pain and she wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Without thinking clearly, she lowered her head under water and held herself down.
A vision flashed across her mind. She saw Peter in a white light coming towards her slowly.
"Mandy, what are you doing here?" He questioned when he got close to her.
"I came to be with you…and our baby." She said smiling.
He smiled back. "I had a feeling you would figure out a way to find me."
"You know me well." She replied.
"I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you." He said sincerely.
"How did you know I was in pain?" She asked.
He smiled. "I've been watching you."
"You have?" She asked surprised.
He nodded. "You saved all those kids…I wouldn't expect anything less though."
She shrugged her shoulders. "It was nothing."
He shook his head. "I totally screwed everything up, Mands. I should've believed you back in Neverland. I'm sorry for everything."
She grabbed his hands. "I forgive you, Peter. We can be together now."
"Actually Mands, we can't." He let go of her hands and began caressing her face. "As much as I love having you here with me, you have to go back."
She put her hands on top of his. "Why? There's nothing for me there."
Peter began stroking her hair. "Of course there is! You have your family…and the Lost Boys need you."
Mandy shook her head. "They'll be fine without me."
"You're needed there more than you know." He replied.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She questioned.
"You'll find out when you go back." He placed a kiss on her cheek and was slowly retreating back into the white light.
"Wait, Peter! Where are you going?" She shouted.
"Someone else wishes to speak with you…and I have to welcome our son to his new home." He said before disappearing completely.
"We had a son." She whispered to herself. She wanted to meet him but she had no idea how to do that. She then remembered that someone else wanted to speak with her; she had no idea who it could be.
Another figure began coming into view. It was hard to make out who it was the light was so bright. As he came closer, she recognized the man in front of her. It was her father, Daniel.
"Daddy?" She asked in a small voice looking up at the man she remembered from his coffin.
"Hi sweetie." He said smiling at her.
She smiled back. "You're taller in person."
He chuckled. "And you look just like your mother." He put his hand on her check. "I have the most beautiful girls in the world." He said softly. "I'm so proud of you."
She wrapped her hands around his waist; it was the first time she ever got to give her father a hug and she couldn't be happier. Daniel felt the same way when he hugged his daughter; if only Regina were here with them then their family would be complete.
Daniel would've spent all day just holding his daughter but she wasn't supposed to be there. "Honey, you have to go back now."
Mandy pulled away. "But why? I get to be with you, Peter and my son."
Daniel shook his head. "I would love to be with you but as Peter said, you're needed there. Regina needs you; she'll be so lost without you. "
Mandy was disappointed. "I love mom but I'm not happy there."
"Things will get better, just give it some time. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me." He pleaded.
"But I just met you. I want to spend more time with you." She argued.
"We'll be together again." He kissed the top of her head. "But you have to go back now and I have to go see my grandson." He slowly began to disappear. "Take care of your mother for me." He added.
Mandy quickly sat up gasping for air when she came out of the water. The vision seemed to last forever but she had only been under for a few minutes. She held her chest and tried to slow down her breathing. She scrunched up her knees and held them tight to her chest. She sat like that for another hour thinking about what she has seen, who she had seen. She didn't know if it was a dream or if she actually talked to them. She couldn't believe what she was trying to do to herself. She realized she would've hurt Regina so bad and she just couldn't do that to her, not after everything Regina has done for her.
Regina was getting worried. Mandy was in the bathroom for a really long time so she decided to go check on her. She knocked on the door but there was no response. She tried to open the door to peak her head in but it was locked. She suddenly felt a knot in her stomach as panic set in. She quickly unlocked the door with magic and rushed in. She saw Mandy sitting in the tub, rocking back and forth.
She knelt down at the side of the tub. "Miranda, are you okay?" Mandy didn't answer. Regina put her hand on her shoulder to get her attention. Mandy was shivering because the water was so cold. Regina began draining the tub and helped Mandy stand up. She wrapped a towel around her and led her back to her room. Mandy didn't say anything when Regina dried her off and put her pajamas on. She tried asking Mandy questions when she finally got her into bed but she wasn't answering. Regina finally gave up; she knew she wasn't getting anything out of her daughter tonight. She stood up and turned to walk out the door when Mandy grabbed her hand.
"Will you stay with me tonight, mommy?" Mandy asked in a small voice. "I don't want to be alone." She knew she sounded like a little kid but she didn't care. She wanted her mom with her.
Regina didn't have to think twice before answering. "Of course I will, sweetie." She said smiling. She crawled into bed next to her daughter and held her close to her chest.
Mandy snuggled closer to her mother, allowing Regina to rest her head on top of her own. She decided not to tell Regina about her vision of Peter and Daniel. She would have to tell her about her attempted suicide and she didn't want to hurt her mother; it was best left unsaid.
Mandy looked up at her mother. "I'm so lucky to have you, mom." She truly meant it.
Regina shook her head. "No, I'm the lucky one."
"I love you so much." She said hugging Regina tighter.
Regina leaned down and rested her forehead against Mandy's. "I love you too, honey." She kissed the top of her head. They fell asleep in each other's arms and stayed like that for the rest of the night.
Cora was nowhere to be found when Regina and Mandy came down the next morning. Regina wasn't too worried of Cora's whereabouts. Her mother could take care of herself; it was other people she was worried about.
"What do you want to eat, dear?" Regina asked walking into the kitchen with Mandy following her and taking a seat at the island.
"Apple pie." She said smiling.
"That's not appropriate for a breakfast meal." Regina replied.
Mandy folded her hands and begged. "Please! I love your apple pie!" She gave Regina the puppy dog look.
Regina sighed. "Fine, but just this once." She said before smiling. She began getting the ingredients out to make it.
Mandy knew she had to eat this time. She didn't want Regina worrying about her so she was going to force herself to eat, even if it wasn't much at first. Her appetite would come back eventually. She hated feeling like shit all the time; she just wanted to be happy. Dr. Whale offered to write a prescription for Mandy to take anti-depressants but Regina refused it. She didn't want her on them. He wrote one anyway, just in case Regina changed her mind. All she had to do was sign her name and take it to the pharmacy. While Regina was making breakfast, she snuck into her purse and removed the slip of paper. She quickly folded it up and tucked it into her bra.
After breakfast, Mandy got dressed and told Regina she was going to take a walk. She declined Regina's offer to accompany her and told her she wanted to be alone. She practiced Regina's signature a few times before forging it on the slip. She walked into the pharmacy and handed it to Sneezy. He looked at it suspiciously but went back and filled it anyway. Once she received the prescription, she headed to the docks. She sat on a bench, watching the boats in the harbor and thinking about what Daniel had said to her in her dream.
"Mind if I sit down?" A voice from behind asked startling Mandy in the process.
Mandy turned around and saw Regina standing there. "What are you doing here?" She asked surprised.
Regina sat down next to her. "I received a call from the pharmacist saying that you filled a prescription that had my signature on it."
Mandy sighed and lowered her head. "Sorry."
"Why did you do it?" Regina asked concerned.
She threw her hands up in frustration. "I thought it would help…I don't know, everything's just so confusing."
Regina wrapped her arm around her. "I know, sweetie. It's going to take some time but you'll get through it. Trust me."
Mandy realized that sounded similar to what Daniel had said in her dream. Mandy leaned her head on Regina. "I do trust you." She knew her parents were smart people and wanted the best for her. She pulled the prescription bottle and handed it to Regina. "Here. I don't want them anymore."
Regina took the bottle from her and walked to the edge of the dock. She dumped the pills into the water and put the empty bottle in her pocket to dispose of it later. "Let's go home. You have someone waiting for you." She said smiling.
"I do?" Mandy asked with a confused look on her face as she stood up.
Regina nodded. "Mhmm. And he's cute!"
Mandy walked through the door first, heading straight for the mirror to check her hair.
Regina walked up behind her and stared at their reflection in the mirror. "You look fine, dear." She said placing her hands on Mandy's shoulders.
Mandy wasn't too sure. "Ya think so?" She asked staring back at her in the mirror.
Regina leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I know so." Mandy smiled. "Now go." Regina said pushing Mandy towards the living room.
Mandy took a deep breath and walked into the living room. Her calm composure disappeared when she saw who it was. "What are you doing here, Jake?" She asked placing her hands on her hips.
Jake stood up and smiled. "I came to check on you."
"I'm fine." She replied.
"Why didn't you let me accompany you back there?" He asked walking closer to her. "None of that would've happened."
"You don't know that. You probably would've been killed…I couldn't let that happen." She argued looking up at him.
He sighed. "I'm just glad you're alright."
Mandy was confused. "Thanks but I talked to you for like a minute. You barely know me."
He leaned in closer so their faces were inches apart. "I'd like to change that."
She didn't flinch. "I don't."
Jake took a step back. "Oh…okay."
"I didn't mean it that way, it's just…I have a lot going on right now." She said trying to explain herself without telling him her life story.
"I understand." He said sadly as he brushed passed her on his way to the door.
"Jake, wait!" She said loudly. He turned around to face her. "It's not you; it's me…okay that sounded horrible. Let me start over."
Jake shook his head. "You don't have to, I get it."
Mandy grabbed his hand so he wouldn't go anywhere. "No, I want to. Please?"
"Alright." He nodded.
Mandy took a deep breath. "I've been through a lot recently and I have a lot of baggage. Trouble seems to follow me where ever I go. I've had my heart broken more times in the last 2 months than I've had my entire life. I can't go through that again."
"I don't mind trouble." He said smiling.
"Jake…" She said sighing.
He laughed. "No, I totally get it. You're not looking for a relationship right now."
Mandy nodded. "Right…but I would like to be friends. I could really use one."
"Then you've got a friend in me." He winked.
Mandy giggled. "Cool. Here…" She said handing him her phone. "Put your number in."
He took his phone out and handed it to her so she could do the same. He handed it back when he was finished. "So I'll text you later then?"
Mandy smiled and nodded. "Mhmm."
"Great…so ugh…bye." He said awkwardly as he waved goodbye.
She waved back. "Bye."
Cora walked through the door when Jake was on his way out.
"And who are you?" Cora asked when she saw this mysteriously person in her house.
"Hi ma'am, my name is Jake. You must be Mandy's grandmother." Cora nodded. "You have a lovely granddaughter."
"Yes, I'm well aware…and don't call me ma'am; it makes me sound old." She said putting her hands on her hips. "Call me Cora."
Jake nodded. "Well, it was nice meeting you Cora." He said before walking out the door without waiting for a response. Cora could tell the boy was in love; she's seen that look before.
She walked into the living room to find Mandy sitting on the couch watching TV. "Who was that boy?" She asked.
"Just some kid who likes me. "She replied without taking her eyes off the screen.
Regina walked into the living room, standing next to Cora. "I heard the front door close. How did it go?" She asked eagerly.
She waved her off. "We're friends, nothing more." She said still not making eye contact.
Cora shot her hand at the TV and it quickly shut off.
"Hey!" Mandy exclaimed. "I was watching that!"
"We are trying to have a conversation with you." Cora replied.
"I answered your questions." She shot back.
"That boy seemed too happy to just be friends." Cora said sharply.
"Nothing happened!" She said defensively as she rose from the sofa. "I told him I wasn't ready for a relationship and we decided to be friends. We exchanged numbers and that was the end of it."
"Don't lie, Miranda. It's not becoming." Cora warned.
Mandy rolled her eyes. "I'm not lying."
"Oh mother, stop prying." Regina sighed.
"You believe her?" Cora asked.
"I do…and where have you been exactly?" Regina asked putting her hands on her hips.
Cora turned the TV back on. "Don't worry about it." She said before walking out of the living room.
Mandy and Regina exchanged glances before following Cora into the kitchen. "Mother, where were you today?"
"Regina, I don't have to tell you everything…in fact, I don't have to tell you anything."
"Oh just tell me!" Regina practically begged.
"I had an appointment with Archie, if you must know." Cora finally said.
"Is that working for you?...Like is it helping?" Mandy asked curiously.
Cora took a minute to ponder the question. "Yes, I suppose it is."
Mandy looked at Regina. "Do you think I could go? Maybe it will help me."
Regina put her hand on Mandy's cheek. "Of course, sweetie. "I'll call him right after dinner."
"Thanks." She said softly.
Regina tapped her on the shoulder. "Why don't you go watch TV and I'll call you when dinner's ready."
Mandy nodded and ran out of the room. Regina made sure she was gone before she continued talking. "That appointment didn't last you all day, mother. Where were you?"
"I'm seeing someone." Cora whispered.
"You are?! Who?" Regina asked surprised.
"I'm not ready to tell you." She replied.
"Why not?"
"Look, I swore not to meddle in yours and Miranda's love lives so you two stay out of mine." Cora said before walking out of the kitchen. Regina was too shocked to say anything else.
"She's unbelievable!" Regina exclaimed before she started dinner.
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