Chapter 34: Preparations and Gifts

Regina burst through the door of the mansion followed by Cora. "Miranda? Miranda!" She screamed hoping she was somewhere in the house.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Mandy yelled from the second floor much to her mother's relief. She really didn't want Mandy to run away again. She walked into the living room and took a seat on the sofa, clearly drained from the day's events.

"What was Archie thinking?" Cora asked as she sat down next to Regina.

"He clearly wasn't." She replied leaning her head on her hand.

"Are we telling Miranda what Gold said?" Cora asked.

Regina sighed. "I don't want to frighten her."

"She will be angry with us if we don't inform her and I think it would be better if she knew, that way she can prepare herself." Cora advised.

"I suppose." Regina agreed although she still didn't want to tell her.

Miranda walked into the living room. "If you called me down to yell at me, save it. Henry had it coming." She said angrily.

Regina stood up and slowly walked over to her. "I'm not going to yell. Henry was way out of line for saying those things to you."

Mandy crossed her arms and looked away from her mother. "I was just defending you."

Regina smiled." I know, darling. Thank you."

Mandy felt bad for ditching them earlier. "I'm sorry for running out of there. Henry had me so angry and upset; I didn't know what I was going to do to him. I was very tempted to use magic."

"I'm glad you didn't." Regina said moving Mandy's long loose curls behind her shoulder. "And what he said about me not wanting you was far from the truth. You know that right?"

"Mmhm." She said half-heartedly diverting her eyes from Regina's. Regina lifted her chin to look deep into her daughter's eyes. "That wasn't very convincing." Mandy didn't respond.

Cora rose and stood by Regina's side. "She wanted you, Miranda. Believe me." She said confirming what Regina previously said.

Mandy believed them. She knew Regina wanted her but she had something else on her mind. "Can I ask you something?"

Regina nodded." Of course, anything."

Mandy shifted uncomfortable with the question she was about to ask but she needed to know the answer. "If you killed your father to enact the curse, would you do it to someone else you love?"

Regina was pained by the mention of her father. She has and always will have guilt about killing her father. "You're afraid I'll sacrifice you for something like the curse." Mandy nodded.

"I already lost you once; I'm not losing you a second time. Besides, I could never do it again; it hurt too much." She said remembering the look on her father's face when she ripped his heart out. A single tear spilled over her eyelid. "I miss him so much."

Mandy hugged her tight. "I'm so sorry, mom."

Regina wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I'm sorry you had to hear the horrible things I've done in the past."

She pulled away to look up at her mother. "You accepted my past so how could I not accept yours!"

Regina gave her a slight smile before her face turned serious. "Honey, there's something I need to tell you." She led her to the sofa. Mandy could tell something was wrong when Cora also sat down on the other side of her.

"Remember when Cora explained to us what being the 'Falling Star' consisted of? You have both light and dark magic." She asked Mandy. She nodded. "Well on your 16th birthday, one of them will take over fully."

"Most likely dark." Cora added. "Because there's more dark magic in you than the pure kind."

Mandy had a feeling something like this would happen but she didn't feel like darkness would win. "Well whatever happens, will you be there?" She looked at Regina than at Cora. "Both you of?" They both reassured her that they would help her through it. "Then everything will be fine, nothing to worry about." She kissed both their cheeks before heading back to her room. She didn't want them to know how scared she was.

It was the morning of the party and things were pretty tense. Henry felt bad for helping Archie organize that meeting. He honestly thought it would help but it just made things worse between everyone. He also felt bad about the things he said to Mandy. He wanted to patch things up before the party so he headed over to Regina's in the hopes Mandy would forgive him.

"Hello Henry." Cora greeted him when she answered the door.

"Hi Cora. I was wondering if I could talk to Mandy?" He said.

"Come in. I'll go get her."

Henry waited in the living room while Cora went to get Mandy. He looked around the room remembering all the time he spent in there. He looked at the pictures of his younger self with Regina that were on the mantle. He noticed a new picture was added since he was gone. It was a picture of Regina and Mandy. He couldn't help but smile. He walked over to a cabinet, knowing that's where his mother kept a hidden stash of candy. He was about to take a piece when he noticed a book that wasn't there before. He pulled it out and began flipping through the pages.

"A spell book! This could come in handy." He heard footsteps on the stairs and quickly slipped it into his backpack and shut the cabinet doors.

"What do you want Henry?" Mandy asked angrily as she came into the living room. She didn't want to talk to him but Cora made her.

"I wanted to apologize for the things I said the other day. I didn't mean any of it; I just said it to hurt you." He said truthfully.

"Well it worked." Mandy sighed.

"I'm really sorry." He said genuinely. "I just got caught up in the moment."

"I think we all did." Mandy said recalling how everyone said mean things to one another.

"Regina loves you…like a lot!" He said.

Mandy giggled. "I love her too."

A smile crept across his face. "So, does this mean you forgive me?" He asked hopefully.

Mandy ruffled his hair." Yea, I forgive you."

"I knew you couldn't stay mad at me."

"You better watch it!" She warned. "I almost used magic on you."

Henry was shocked. "You wouldn't!"

"If I'm mad enough, I will."

"Note to self…don't piss off Mandy." Henry said.

Mandy laughed. "And don't you forget it!"

Regina then walked into the room. "Mother said you were here. Henry."

"I was just apologizing for the things I said to Mandy." Henry informed.

"Henry, those were horrible things you said to her. I thought I raised you better than that." Regina scolded.

Henry put his head down. "You did. I'm sorry."

"You two should be protecting one another like brother and sister, not fighting each other." She said to both her children.

They both nodded and replied in unison. "Yes, mom."

"You two need to realize that DNA isn't what makes a family; it's love." She informed them.

"Miranda, could you come here please?" Cora called from the kitchen. Mandy rolled her eyes but complied.

"Henry, I love you both equally and just because you're living with Emma now doesn't mean I love you any less." Regina reminded him.

Henry looked up to her with his hopeful eyes. "I will always have a place in my heart for you. You're my mom too. I don't mean to pick sides; it's just hard when you two don't exactly get along."

Regina nodded. "I understand Henry. Emma and I are trying our best."

"I know." He smiled.

"Mom, you'll never guess what Cora got me for my birthday!" Mandy yelled running into the room.

"What is it?" She asked curiously.

Mandy began pulling her towards the kitchen. "You'll see!"

She dragged Regina into the kitchen and she was shocked at what she saw. "Mother, what are you holding?"

"It's a cat, Regina. You've seen them before." Cora said petting the white feline.

"Yes, but why is it in my kitchen?" She questioned.

"It's my birthday present!" Mandy said excitingly.

Something fury brushed up against Regina's leg. She looked down, startled, seeing an orange kitten. "How many cats did you buy her?"

"Four." Cora responded nonchalantly. "A mother and her three kittens."

"Cora is holding the mother. Her name is Duchess." Mandy told her.

"How appropriate." Regina said eyeing the cat in her mother's arms.

Mandy nodded. "The orange kitten is named Toulouse, the black kitten is named Berlioz, and the white kitten is named Marie."

"How did you come up with those names?" Henry asked picking up the orange kitten that was rubbing up against him.

"It's the names on their collars." She said as she held the black kitten.

"They must be the Aristocats!" Henry exclaimed recalling that movie.

"We can't keep them all." Regina said looking at how these cats had taken over her kitchen. She thought about all the cat hair that would most definitely be all over her house.

"But we can't split them up!" Mandy protested as she handed Regina the small white kitten. "Do you really want to separate them from their mother?" She asked knowing her mother wouldn't be able to do it since she knew what it was like to be separated from her child.

Regina looked into Marie's cute little eyes. "How can I say no to that face?"

"Does that mean they all stay?" Mandy asked hopefully.

Regina sighed. "They all stay." She confirmed knowing she would be doing more cleaning than usual.

The Mills women spent the rest of the day getting ready together. Regina just finished painting Mandy's nails a dark purple. "Don't touch anything. Now sit tight, Cora's going to do your hair and makeup." She said before leaving to get changed.

"Is it going to take long?" She asked Cora.

"What do you think?" Cora asked as if she should already know the answer.

"Magic?" Mandy said seeing that would be the only possible way Cora would be doing her hair.

"You didn't think I was going to do it by hand, did you?" She asked surprised before snapping her fingers. The front of her hair was twirled back slightly in five rows and was pinned in place with shiny snowflake pins. The rest of her hair was curled and remained down.

"Wow Cora. I love it!" Mandy exclaimed looking in the mirror.

Cora smiled. "Thought you would."

Regina came into her room with Mandy's dress and laid it on the bed. She was wearing a royal blue satin dress that was tight up top but flowed freely at the waist. A thin line of sparkles lined the top of her strapless dress and also went around her waist. Her hair curled and pinned up.

"Oh mother! You outdid yourself." She said admiring Mandy's hair and makeup.

"Thank you, my love." She said to Regina before pulling Mandy up and pushing her towards the bed. "Put your dress on….and don't mess up your hair!" Cora instructed. Regina sat down in Miranda's previous seat and began doing her makeup.

Mandy quickly slipped into her dress. It was a black strapless dress that had a deep purple flowing through the skirt of it. The top part was covered with just enough sparkles to bring beauty to the dress. "Cora, can you lace it up?"

"I have to go get ready, dear. Ask Regina." She said before leaving.

"Come here, dear." Regina said without looking away from the mirror. Mandy walked over to her while trying to hold up her dress.

Regina quickly laced it up without any trouble. "Turn around. Let me get a good look at you."

Mandy turned around, not expecting to look pretty or anything. "What do you think?" Mandy asked shyly.

Regina stood up. "Oh honey, you look beautiful."

Mandy rolled her eyes. "Mom, you don't have to exaggerate."

Regina walked behind her daughter as they both stared in the mirror at one another. "Jake is going to be speechless when he sees you." She said smiling.

Mandy took a step closer to the mirror. She didn't even recognize herself. She never thought she would ever wearing a beautiful dress and going to a fancy party that was her. "Wow." She whispered to herself.

Regina put her hands on her daughters' shoulders. "What is it, dear?"

Mandy looked to her mother though the mirror, "For the first time…I feel…pretty."

"You didn't have to put on a nice dress and some makeup to figure that out." Regina turned her around and cupped her daughter's face in her hands. "You're beautiful because you're you." She kissed the top of her forehead.

Mandy blushed. "Thanks, mom." It made her feel better.

Regina handed her a small wrapped box. "For you, dear. I hope you like it."

Mandy unwrapped it quickly. She pulled out a chain with a gold ring hanging from it. "It was the ring your father gave me when he proposed. It used to have magic attached to it, but I used it." She didn't want to tell her what she used it on, so she left that part out and was hoping Mandy wouldn't ask. "I wanted you to have it."

Mandy smiled. "It's the best gift ever!" She flung her arms around her mother's neck. "Thanks mom!"

"I'm glad you like it, dear." She said hugging her back.

"Can you put it on me?" She asked.

"Of course!" She took the necklace from her and clasped it around Mandy's neck. Mandy held it in her hand as it hung from her neck. It made her feel closer to her father.

"So…how are princesses supposed to act?" She asked randomly.

Regina thought about it for a moment. "Well, a princess must act responsibly, be very involved with her people, be knowledgeable about many things and know how to rule a kingdom."

"Oh, that's it?" She said sarcastically.

Regina laughed. "You don't have to worry about any of that. I just want you to have fun tonight." As soon as Regina finished her sentence, tiaras appeared on both of their heads. "Mother!" Regina screamed.

Cora walked into the room. "Those tiaras look wonderful upon your heads…and they go perfectly with your dresses."

"Mother, we are not going to this party as royalty. We are going as Regina, Cora and Miranda Mills, got it?" Regina said loud and clear.

Cora huffed and pursed her lips. "Alright Regina, don't throw a fit."

"Can I wear it?" Mandy asked making Regina turn around shocked. "If you really want too…" She said causing Mandy to smile. Regina turned back to her mother and noticed her dress. She instantly became angry. "Mother, what the hell are you wearing?!"

Cora smoothed down her blood red silk dress. It had a thick intricate white pattern that lined the top of her strapless dress and went down the center slightly and went around the waist. A few small white roses were on the skirt of the dress. "My dress, dear. Don't you just love it?...Not the white roses so much, but the rest of it?"

Regina gritted her teeth and ignored her question. "Why is it red? We agreed that neither one of us was going to wear that color!"

Cora shrugged her shoulders. "I changed my mind."

Regina walked closer to her mother, clearly still angry. "You had every intention of going behind my back and wearing red, didn't you?"

Cora chuckled at how well her daughter knew her. "Yes, I was always going to wear this color."

"You're unbelievable…. " Regina started but was interrupted by her daughter. "Can you two please not fight tonight?" She begged. "Please?"

"Sorry, dear." Regina apologized. She dint want to ruin this special night for her daughter.

The doorbell rang, making Mandy jump. "Oh no, he's here. Jake's here!"

Cora looked at her granddaughter and couldn't believe how childish she was acting. "Calm down, Miranda. It's just a boy."

"Mother, I think it would be more helpful if you answered the door rather than trying to calm down your granddaughter." Regina said aggravated before Cora left annoyed at her daughter.

Regina turned back around to her daughter who was nervously pacing the floor. "Honey, why are you so nervous?"

"I don't want to do something stupid in front of him." She said looking at the floor as she kept pacing.

"Like what?" She asked.

Mandy threw her hands up in the air. "I don't know, like trip in front of him. I'm not a pro at walking in heels, ya know!"

"You'll be fine." Regina assured her. "I thought you two were just friends anyway?"

"We are, but I think I kinda like him." She admitted.

"That's okay."

Mandy became frustrated with the emotions she was feeling. She stopped pacing and yelled, "No, it's not okay! What about Peter? It's like I'm totally forgetting about him." She cried and began pacing again.

Regina wasn't ready for Mandy's outburst but she understood. "Honey, Peter will want you to move on."

"How do you know that?" She asked looking at the floor.

Regina put her hands on her daughter's shoulders, making her look at her. "If he truly loved you, he will want you to love again. Your father told me to do the same thing."

"How did you talk to Daddy?" She asked curiously as tears slid down her face. She wanted to know if her mother talked to Daniel in the dream state she was in when she tried committing suicide.

"When Dr. Whale brought him back, he told me that before he turned back into a monster." She said remembering that day like it was yesterday and how painful it was to hear Daniel say that to her.

"And did you?" Mandy asked looking up at her mother.

"I haven't found anyone yet…but you have!" She said wiping away Mandy's tears. "He won't be Peter but he can bring some happiness back into your life…if you'll let him." As she listened to herself say those words, she realized she should take her own advice.

Mandy nodded. "I guess so…I'm still nervous though."

Regina magically fixed her makeup before placing a kiss on her forehead. "How many times do I have to tell you you'll be fine?"

Mandy tilted her head and smiled. "Once more."

Regina leaned down so their foreheads met. "You'll be fine!" Now hurry up, you don't want to keep him waiting any longer." She said pushing her towards the door.

"I'm going, I'm going." She turned back to her mother. "I have to tell you something, but I don't want to ruin the night so I'll tell you tomorrow."

"You can tell me now." Regina said wanting to know what it was.

Mandy shook her head. "It's better to wait until tomorrow…and thanks for calming me down!" She was going to tell Regina about her attempted suicide and she knew her mother wouldn't take it too well. She was also worried about her powers that were supposed to become either dark or light later that night. She tried to put all of that at the back of her head as she made her way down the stairs, Regina following her.

Cora was asking Jake a ton of questions in the foyer when Mandy coughed letting them know she was coming down. Jake looked up to her, his jaw dropping at the sight. Even though Regina was standing right behind her, his eyes were purely focused on Mandy. He blinked his eyes a few times to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. He watched her descend the stairs, never taking his eyes off of her.

She wasn't sure what he was thinking and became uneasy. She flashed him a nervous smile when she reached the bottom. Regina and Cora were watching and listening a few feet away with smiles on their faces.

"Hi Jake." Mandy said walking over to him.

Jake shook his head in disbelief. "You look so…" She cut him off. "Girly?"

"Beautiful." He said looking into her dark brown eyes. To him, it was like they were glistening.

She blushed. She wasn't expecting him to say that. "Thank you." She whispered. "And you look very handsome…especially with your purple tie."

Jake lifted his tie. "To match your dress."

She smiled. "How appropriate."

He forgot to give her the flowers he brought her. "For you." She took them and smelled them. "They are purple oleander. It means beauty and grace…both of which you possess."

"Thank you, their lovely!" She said smiling up at him.

"They are very nice." Regina said walking a little closer to the couple.

Mandy realized they had never met before. "Oh I don't think you two met. Jake this is my mother, Regina. Mom, Jake." They shook hands. "Nice to meet you Ms. Mills."

"Please, it's Regina." She said.

He nodded in her direction and then held out his arm. "Shall we?" He asked looking at Miranda.

She hooked her arm around his. "I'll meet you there." She said to Regina and Cora.

"Not so fast!" Regina said catching Mandy's free arm. "I want to take a picture of the two of you."

Mandy sighed. "Mom, seriously?!" She thought she would embarrass herself, but her mother was doing that for her.

"Smile!" Regina said ignoring her daughter and held up the camera. Mandy reluctantly smiled, still holding on to Jake's arm.

"You two are so cute together! Get another one Regina." Cora demanded.

Mandy held up her hand. "One's enough."

"It's okay, Miranda. I like getting my picture taken." He said.

"You do?" She asked shocked.

"With you standing next to me, how could I not enjoy it?" He said sincerely as he wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her closer. Although he couldn't see her face, he could tell she was beaming. Regina and Cora could tell from the picture that there was something special between the couple.

"You two get a picture!" Jake said to Regina.

She was surprised by the suggestion but handed him the camera and stood next to her daughter.

"Cora, get on the other side of Mandy!" Jake instructed.

"What are you, some kind of photographer?" Mandy asked sarcastically.

Jake laughed. "I just like taking pictures of beautiful things." All three couldn't help but smile at his comment. He quickly snapped the photo catching them in a rare but special moment. "That one was really good. You should totally frame that one!" He said handing the camera back to Regina.

"You can count on it." She told him.

"Can we go now?" Mandy asked eagerly.

"How are you getting there?" Regina asked.

"My car." Jake replied.

"You drive?" She asked arching her eyebrows.

"Yes. I'm a very safe driver but I'll be extra careful for something special will be inside. "He said smiling down at Mandy.

Regina smiled eyeing the pair in front of them. "Very well. I'll see you both there."

"Looking forward to it. Ready Mandy?" Jake asked.

Mandy hooked her arm though his once more. "Ready!"

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Next update won't be for a few days, but the Party is next. Let me know what you think!