Italics are Mandy's thoughts.
Chapter 28: Therapy and Forgiveness
Regina dropped Mandy off at Dr. Hopper's office. He welcomed her in when she knocked on the door. She took a seat on the couch, waiting for Dr. Hopper to begin the session.
"What would you like to talk about, Miranda?" Archie asked as he sat down across from her.
Mandy shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I don't really do this sorta thing."
Archie had this problem with all his first time patients. They weren't sure how to start things off and had trouble talking about the things that were bothering them. "I can tell you're a little apprehensive about being here, but it will help. Why don't you start with what's bothering you the most." He suggested.
Mandy took a minute to think. "I guess it would have to be the guilt I have over killing Peter."
"Who's Peter?" Archie questioned.
"My boyfriend….well was." She answered sadly. "I didn't mean to kill him. I just didn't want him to hurt Henry."
"Sounds like you were just protecting Henry." Archie replied.
"But it doesn't change the fact that he's dead. I killed him and I will never get to see him again." She argued.
Archie sighed. "Death is something we all have to deal with some time in our lives. Some are taken from us too soon but it's best to remember the good times you had together and know that he is in a better place."
"Well I guess I'm selfish because I want him here with me." Mandy replied.
"It's not selfish, it's normal." Archie said assuring her that what she was feeling was perfectly fine.
"Can we talk about something else?" Mandy asked wanting to move on to a different topic.
"Sure. Why don't you talk about your relationship with Regina?" Archie suggested.
"What about it?" Mandy asked.
"Well you've only reconnected with her a little while ago, how are you handling that?"
"Good I guess. I was shocked to find out she was my mother but I'm glad I found her." She said smiling thinking about Regina.
"Sounds like you two are getting along." He smiled.
"We are! I really enjoy spending time with her." She replied happily.
"So you tell her everything then?" Archie asked.
Mandy looked down. "Not exactly."
"I thought you got along." Archie asked.
"We do, but what child tells their parents everything? Besides, I don't want her to know too much about my past." She said sadly.
"What happened in the past?"
Mandy looked up at him. "If I don't want to tell her, what makes you think I want to tell you?" She answered angrily.
"I'm only trying to help." Archie said keeping a calm voice.
Mandy sighed. "I know, I'm sorry, this is just hard for me to talk about."
Archie nodded. "I understand. Most people don't like talking about things that happened to them in the past but once they do, it helps."
"I don't trust you yet so can we move on for now?" Mandy asked.
Archie wanted to stay on this topic but he didn't want to push her too early. "Okay. How have you been feeling lately?"
"Depressed mostly." She answered.
"Why? You saved all those children."
"That cost me my child's life, not to mention my own…for a few minutes." She said tears filling up in her eyes that she desperately fought back.
"You wanted to be a mother?" He asked.
"I was scared but I was going to keep him." She answered confidently.
"Him? How do you know it was a boy?" He asked confused as to why she referring to the baby as a boy when it was too early to tell.
Mandy didn't want to tell him about her attempted suicide and her talk with Peter and Daniel so she lied. "Call it a mother's intuition."
Archie knew she was lying. "I'd like to believe you, but I don't."
Damn, I suck at lying. I don't want to tell him the truth but I feel bad because I haven't told him anything really. Maybe this was a bad idea. It's not helping. Maybe I should just tell him. Ugh, I'm so indecisive its annoying.
"Mandy?" Archie asked breaking her thoughts. "How do you know it was a boy?"
Mandy fumbled her words. "I…ugh…had a dream about Peter and he told me it was a boy." She wasn't exactly lying; she just left out part of the truth.
"It sounds like you finally accepted that they both passed away." Archie said.
Mandy nodded. "I guess I have. I feel better that Peter is taking care of him. I know he is safe with him. Peter would've been a great father."
"Did you name the baby?" Archie asked.
"No, it didn't really occur to me to do that. Do you think it would help?" She asked hopefully.
"I do. I think it will create some sort of closure for you if you named him." He responded.
"Noah." She whispered.
"What?" Archie asked not able to hear what she had mumbled.
"Noah." She said louder. "His name is Noah."
"That's a nice name. How did you come up with it?" Archie asked wanting to know the reasoning behind the name.
"When I first found out I was pregnant, I looked up some baby names. Noah was the one that stood out to me. It means 'rest and comfort'. I want him to be at peace." Mandy said remembering all the names she looked at and their meanings.
"I think Peter and Noah are both happy with the name and watching over you from above." Archie said smiling.
Mandy looked up to the ceiling smiling. "And my father." She added.
"I'm sure he's right there with them…So what do you like to do for fun?" Archie asked moving on to another topic.
Mandy shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I hang out with Henry a lot and the Lost Boys."
"You don't have any girl friends you hang around with?" He asked.
"Tinkerbell occasionally but other than that…not really."
"No friends at school?"
"I didn't really have friends. I stopped going to school once the curse was broken."
"Why? You didn't like it?" He asked surprised.
"What kid likes going to school? Besides, I've gone to school for 28 years, I think I've spent more than enough time there."
"But now that time in unfrozen, you get to move up a grade and learn new things." Archie informed. "You get to interact with different people and make new friends. I think it will help you in the long run."
"I'll think about it. Can I go now?" She asked eagerly.
"It's only been half hour." He protested.
"I know but I don't really feel like talking anymore. Maybe next time." Mandy said. She felt like she had been talking for hours.
"I think we covered a lot in a half hour, I suppose we can end early." Archie said.
"Great, thanks." She said getting up and heading towards the door.
"Miranda, I would like to have another session tomorrow." Archie said also standing up.
Mandy turned. "Fine, but can we make it for 1pm. I'm not a morning person."
Archie laughed, "Yes, 1pm is fine. I would also like to have a group session."
"Like Regina, Cora, and me?" She asked surprised.
Archie nodded. "Yes and a few other people."
Mandy crossed her arms. "How many are we talking?"
Snow came over Regina's to plan the party. They were in the living room with a whole bunch of papers with decoration and party stuff on them spread all over the floor.
"I think we should go with the white table clothes." Snow said holding up a picture with different colored table clothes.
"If we go with white, you'll be able to see all the stains when people drop food on it. No we are going with a deep red." Cora said shooting down Snow's suggestion.
"But Cora…" Snow started to argue but was interrupted by Regina.
"No sense in arguing with her Snow." Regina said knowing the younger woman wouldn't win against her mother. It was always her mother's way or no way.
Snow sighed knowing Regina was right. "Fine. All we have left are the invitations."
"We'll invite all the royals!" Cora said excitedly.
"We are inviting everyone Cora. Mandy doesn't know many royals anyway." Snow said correcting Cora.
"I don't think she cares to either." Regina added. "Besides, royal standings don't really matter here."
"Well that's depressing." Cora said upon hearing the news on the statuses of everyone.
They heard the front door slam and Regina made her way to the front to see who it was. She saw Mandy going up the stairs.
"Miranda, what are you doing home? I was going to pick you up." Regina said wondering why her daughter was home before she was supposed to be.
"It ended early." She said simply.
"Why, did something happen?" Regina asked a little worried. Snow and Cora were behind the living room wall, listening to their conversation on the stairs.
"No, I just got tired of talking. That's all."
"Come down here, please." Regina said seriously.
Mandy rolled her eyes but complied. "What?" She said aggravated as she got to the bottom step so she was eye level with Regina.
"Honey, I need you talk to Archie." Regina said more calmly.
"Why?" Mandy whined.
Regina took her hands in hers. "Because you won't tell me what's going on and I'm worried about you."
"Nothing's going on, I'm fine." Mandy said trying to sound happy.
"Then why did you want to go in the first place?" Regina asked.
Mandy pulled her hands away from her. "To get you to stop worrying about me." She lied. She thought Archie might be able to help.
Regina narrowed her eyes. "There's more to it than that, you're just not telling me."
I hate that she knows me so well but then again, it's comforting in a way. It means that we've become close enough to pick up on each others habits and mechanisms. Mandy gritted her teeth. "I'll talk to Archie more at my next session, okay? Does that make you feel better?" She said with a slight attitude as she crossed her arms.
Regina nodded. "You don't have to tell him everything at once, okay? I want you to feel comfortable."
"I will if you stop worrying so much." Mandy said.
"It's a mother's job to worry." Regina responded.
Mandy looked guilty. "Do you wish you never had me then?"
Regina put her finger to Mandy's lips. "Nonsense. I'm so grateful to have you with me every day. I don't know what I would do without you." She said smiling.
Mandy wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. Regina lifted her up and spun her around. "I'm sorry." Mandy whispered into her ear. Regina squeezed her tighter before setting her down.
Mandy looked up at Regina with her big brown eyes. "I named my baby Noah." She said smiling.
Regina smiled. "That's a cute name. What makes you so sure it was a boy?"
Mandy grabbed her hands. "I just know."
Regina accepted her answer. "Why don't you come in the living room? We are planning your party." She said motioning towards the living room.
Cora and Snow quickly ran back to their spots on the sofa, acting like they've been there the entire time Regina was out in the hallway.
"So are we going to send them out tomorrow?" Snow asked trying to sound normal.
"Why not today?" Cora asked.
Snow shook her head. "We have to make them still."
Cora rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Snow." She waved her hand and a ton of invitations were on the table in front of them.
Snow's mouth dropped when she saw them. "Today works too." She said nodding her head.
Mandy was shocked when she saw how many invitations appeared. "How many people are coming to this thing?"
"Everyone in Storybrooke." Cora said happily.
"But I don't know everyone in Storybrooke." Mandy protested.
"They know you." Snow said smiling.
"I liked it better when I was invisible…" Mandy mumbled.
"I guess if we don't have anything else to do then I'll get going." Snow said as she stood up.
Mandy remembered she had to tell them all something. "Wait, Snow before you go Archie wanted me to tell you all something."
"All of us?" Regina asked confused as to what it might be.
Mandy nodded. "He wants to do a group therapy session with everyone."
"Who's everyone?" Snow asked.
Mandy tried to think of everyone Archie had mentioned earlier. "You, me, Regina, Cora, Emma, Henry, Neal, Gold, and David."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Miranda." Cora said knowing how that day would turn out.
"Yea, all of us in the same room is a little frightening. Who knows what we will say." Snow added.
"It's not my idea, it was Archie's. I'm just the messenger." Mandy said putting her hands up in defense.
"What the hell is that bug thinking?" Regina asked rhetorically.
"So many secrets would come out." Snow said shaking her head.
"I think we'd kill each other before we let that happen." Cora said making her way over to the group near the doorway.
"Well I'll tell him tomorrow that you all shot down his idea." Mandy said as she leaned on the door frame.
"I think that would be best." Regina said nodding her head.
"Cora, if you could get all those invitations in my car that would be great! I can mail them on the way home." Snow said cheerfully.
Cora waved her hand and the invitations disappeared. "Thanks Cora. I'll see you all at the dress fittings later." Snow said before heading out the door.
"Dress fittings?" Mandy asked disgusted as she stood up straight.
"Yes. You'll pick out the dress you want but you have to be properly fitted." Cora answered.
Mandy looked up at Regina for help. Regina shrugged her shoulders. "At least she didn't pick it out for you."
Mandy crossed her arms and leaned back on the door frame. "I have a feeling I'm not going to like this party."
"Oh you will. We have so many things planned!" Cora said with glee.
"You finished planning the entire party in an hour?" Mandy asked arching her eyebrows, just like Regina used to do when she was her age.
"They were planning since 8 this morning." Regina answered. "It's sickening how excited they are." She looked disgusted.
"What time is this stupid fitting?" Mandy asked.
"4pm." Cora replied.
"Good, I've got time for a nap." Mandy said before she turned to head up to her room.
Cora grabbed her arm. "Oh no, we have too much to do."
"What are you talking about?" Mandy asked furrowing her eyebrows in confusion.
"You have to learn how to speak properly, how to dance, how to act, how to…"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn't agree to any of this." Mandy said waving her off.
"Mother, half the people won't know how to act royally so it doesn't matter how Miranda acts or dances as long as she has fun." Regina replied aggravated that her mother was still worried about status.
"Then that should give her the incentive to be better than those commoners." Cora replied not giving a second thought to what her daughter had just said.
"I am one of those commoners!" Mandy yelled at Cora.
Regina and Cora were both surprised by her sudden outburst. "No, you're not. You are a princess. And don't raise your voice at me." Cora hissed her eyes full of rage at her granddaughter's back talk.
Mandy was just as fired up as Cora was. "I am not a princess…I grew up catering to the needs of the stupid people you left me with. I'm not going to be something I'm not. If you can't accept that, then you can just cancel the party." She screamed before running up to her room.
Cora just stood there in shock. "Nice going mother. You just ruined what was supposed to be a nice day all because of your stupid obsession with status." Regina said angrily before storming out of the living room leaving Cora to think about everything that was just said her.
Emma, Henry and David were eating lunch when Snow came in.
"There you are!" David exclaimed when he saw his wife. "We were getting worried."
"Yea, we almost came to rescue you." Emma added.
Snow walked over to the table and took a seat. "I wasn't in need of rescuing. Aside from a few little arguments with Cora, it went well. Just finished sending out the invitations."
"You planned an entire party in a few hours?" Henry asked shocked.
Snow smiled at their accomplishment. "You can get a lot done when you are determined." She said pouring herself a glass of orange juice.
"And Mandy's okay with this huge party?" Emma asked with her mouth full of food.
Snow nodded. "I think so. But she did mention that Archie wants us all to go to group therapy."
David dropped his fork in shock. "What is he, crazy?"
"That's going to be a disaster!" Emma exclaimed.
"Don't worry; it's not going to happen. Cora and Regina already shot the idea down, as did I." Snow assured them.
"Thank goodness! I don't think I could sit in the same room as them." David sighed in relief that he wouldn't have to.
"He wanted Neal and Gold to join us as well." Snow laughed. "I think Archie is going crazy if he thought that would end well."
"Someone would end up dead if that happened." Emma said as she shoveled more food into her mouth.
"Can I stay over Regina's tonight?" Henry asked moving on to another topic.
Emma almost choked on her food. "Ugh…" She looked to both her parents for the answer but they were just as shocked as she was by the question. "Sure kid, if you really want to."
"Did you ask Regina?" David questioned.
Henry shook his head. "No I wanted to ask you first. I didn't want to get her hopes up if you said no."
"I think Regina would like that very much!" Snow said smiling. "We will tell her later when we see them."
"We're seeing them later?" Henry questioned.
"Emma and I are when we get fitted for our dresses with them." Snow answered before sipping her juice.
"I have to wear a dress?" Emma questioned arching her eyebrows.
"Well of course, it's a ball!" Snow replied.
"You didn't expect to wear jeans and button down shirt did you?" David asked laughing.
Emma frowned at David's little joke. "No but I didn't think I had to wear a dress."
"What about me, what do I get to wear?" Henry asked eagerly.
David put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry buddy, I gotcha covered."
"So back to the dress thing…" Emma said getting Snow's attention. "Is there any way I could wear like a nice pair of pants and a fancy shirt?"
Snow sighed. "Emma it's your first ball. You have to wear a dress."
Emma looked down at her food in disappointment. She then looked back up at Snow with a half-smile on her face. "What if it's a really fancy shirt? I'll even wear a skirt with it!"
"Emma, it means a lot to your mother if you would just go along with this." David said pleading with his daughter.
Emma sighed." Fine." She gave in which made Snow squeal.
Snow jumped up from her seat and wrapped her hands around Emma's neck and hugged her tight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Cora was on her way up the stairs when Regina spotted her. "Where are you going, mother?" She asked placing her hands on her hips at the bottom of the staircase.
Cora stopped and sighed. She was caught. "If you must know" she said as she turned to face Regina "I was on my way up to apologize to Miranda."
Regina arched her eyebrows. "You? Apologize?"
"Yes, you sound shocked." Cora said crossing her arms.
"Because I am. You never apologize…to anyone." Regina said as she crossed her arms mimicking her mother.
"Well I'm about to…so if you'll excuse me." She said before continuing up the stairs.
Regina wasn't missing this so she quietly followed her mother. Cora stopped right outside of Mandy's door when she noticed Regina was following her. "What are you doing?" Cora asked in a loud aggravated whisper.
"I came to watch this apology and to make sure you don't hurt her feelings any more than you already have." Regina shot back in the same tone Cora used.
"Regina, I am old enough to handle an apology by myself. I don't need supervision." Cora whisper yelled.
"That's where you're wrong mother. You can't be trusted!" Regina shot back.
"I can so!" Cora said.
"Can not!"
"Can so!"
"Can not!"
Miranda's door suddenly opened causing both women to stop talking immediately. "You do realize you aren't whispering…I can hear you."
Cora straightened her blazer and cleared her throat. "Can I talk to you?"
Mandy frowned as she leaned on the door. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Regina can stay…" Cora said quickly hoping allowing her to stay would ease Miranda's nerves.
Mandy looked at Regina and then back at Cora. "Fine." She sighed and opened the door wider, signaling them to come in. Mandy sat on the bed waiting for Cora to begin.
"Regina, please sit down." Cora said. Regina shot her a look before taking a seat next to Mandy on the bed. Cora began pacing back and forth. She really never apologized before and didn't really know how.
Mandy leaned closer to Regina so Cora wouldn't hear. "I could be napping right now…"
Regina rolled her eyes. "Mother, today."
"I'm getting my thoughts together." She said still pacing the room.
Mandy hopped off the bed. "Well while you do that, I'm gonna go grab something to eat."
Before she could take another step, Cora flew out her hands sending Mandy flying back onto the bed. Regina tried to catch her to ease the fall.
"Mother, what the hell?!" Regina screamed.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Reflex."
Mandy quickly crawled behind Regina and put her hands on her shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Cora asked rolling her eyes.
Mandy poked her head out from behind Regina. "I'm staying behind mom until you say whatever it is you have to say. I'm not in the mood to fly through the air anymore today."
"Just get on with it mother!" Regina commanded.
Cora looked at her feet then back up at Miranda and Regina. "Miranda, I'm so sorry for going a little over board earlier today. I get caught up in parties. I was always crashing them when I was your age for the free food, never to enjoy them or meet people. I was busy trying to run my father's stupid mill and make as much money as we could. I just wanted you to experience things I never did. I wanted better for you, for both of you."
"You owned a mill?" Mandy asked surprised.
"Yes, it's not something I want to remember." Cora said shaking her head.
Regina's eyes narrowed on her mother. "If you wanted what was best for both of us, why did you take her from."
Cora threw her hands up. "We've been over this Regina. You were about to become Queen."
Regina would've stood up but Mandy was holding on to her. "So, what was best for my daughter was to be sent away to be taken care of by a family who abused her?"
Cora walked closer to Regina. "I didn't know they were like that, Regina. They had two kids so I thought they would be good parents. I wouldn't have left her there if I'd known."
"Can we just drop this, please?" Mandy begged. She hated when people talked about her, especially about her past.
Regina ignored her, she was already fired up. "Families are supposed to protect one another. You're her grandmother!" Regina yelled.
"I was going to get her back once you were married to the King, but you pushed me into the Looking Glass before any of that was possible." Cora yelled back.
"Are you saying it's my fault she was abused?" Regina asked in a deep voice.
Mandy couldn't listen to them fight anymore. "It's my own fault. I should've stopped it or ran away. I don't like talking about this. Please, can we just drop it? Please?" Mandy begged.
Regina turned around and took hold of her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes. "What happened back then was never your fault. You were only a child, you still are. Don't think for a second this was your fault."
"Regina's right." Mandy and Regina looked at Cora in shock. She just admitted that Regina was right. "I'm sorry. I take full responsibility. Everything was a mistake. I shouldn't have taken you away from your mother. You needed her, like she needed you."
"It's about damn time you admitted you were wrong." Regina said angrily.
"I know. I thought I was doing what was best for you, Regina, but what was best was to let you keep your daughter." Cora said looking into Regina's eyes.
Regina walked closer to her mother. "Did you feel any regret when you saw how upset I was when I thought she had died?" She asked still holding anger in her voice.
"I was thinking with my head, not my heart so…no I didn't." Cora responded sadly but truthfully. "I do now though. That's all I have is regret."
"It amazes me that you felt nothing when you handed her over. You didn't want to watch her grow up and live her life like I did?"
Cora put her head down in shame. "I've failed you both in the past…" She picked her head back up. "But I would like to make up for that now."
Mandy stepped in front of Regina. "I hope you really mean that, Cora."
Cora took her hands. "I do, I really do!"
Mandy smiled. "We better get going if we wanna make the fitting."
"You mean you still want to have the party?" Cora asked surprised.
Mandy nodded. "Yea, you and Snow worked really hard on it and the invitations have already been sent out so.."
In all the excitement Cora was feeling about her still wanting the party and that she apologized she gave Miranda a hug, which shocked both Regina and Mandy. "You'll have fun. I'll go get my things and meet you both at the door." She said before leaving. Regina placed her arms around Mandy's neck. "You're incredible, you know that."
Mandy looked up at her. "What do you mean?"
"First, you stood up to her, something I never had the guts to do, then you accept her apology with grace after everything she has done and you got a hug from her!" She said listing Miranda's accomplishments in just one day that she has been trying to do for years.
"I guess." Mandy said shrugging her shoulders.
"And what made you change your mind about the party?" Regina asked.
Mandy turned to face her. "Don't tell Cora, but I'm really excited. My first party!" She said jumping up and down like a five year old hopped up on candy.
Regina laughed. "I'm glad to hear that!" She said before they both went down to join Cora at the front door.
I was having trouble writing this chapter so it came out longer than expected. Let me know if there is anything you would like me to include in the story and don't forget to review!