Chapter 3

Enchanted Forest, sometime in the future

Belle and Remy were at a table reading over some books. Belle looked over the top of her book. She knew better than to interrupt Remy while she was studying. She wondered how long Remy would go on this new tangent of reading on the histories of the Enchanted Forest, before she would pick a new topic.

Last month, it has been the languages of Mulan and her island nations to the Far East. The month before that, it had been spell work with water. She couldn't occupy her mind fast enough and she would jump from topic to topic whenever the mood struck. Belle hoped that she would be able to rein her in, somewhat, but Remy was just like her mothers. She wanted knowledge and she wanted it quickly. It didn't matter that she didn't digest it enough to actually understand it. She would just want more. She inherently knew that knowledge was power and power would protect her and her makeshift family.

"When did the Curse occur?" Remy asked as soon as she noticed Belle watching her.

"Right before your mother was born," Belle answered.

"Not that Curse, the Blackness. When did it happen? There is nothing mentioned about it in the histories, why?" Remy asked.

"You are a bright girl, Coraline, but you can't ask about that beyond these walls. That curse fell upon us around your fifth year. It was about ten years ago."

"But, why?" Remy asked, slightly dejected by Belle's answer.

"Because you are the Swan Princess and the Black Queen still searches for you. Red and I have done everything that we have for you. It was a promise that we made to your mothers. That is why you are called Coraline by everyone in the village. You are important to them all. They just don't know who you really are," Belle told her.

"So, for ten years I have hidden in plain sight to the people who are also my subjects. Do you think that they would turn me over to the Black Queen? Do you think so little of them?"

"It isn't that, Coraline, my dear. People need something to believe in, something to give them hope. You are that hope and they don't need to know that you are among them. As long as they believe that you are out there, coming to help us all against the Black Queen, then they will support you without knowing they are doing it. They will ask for proof, but you aren't ready to lead them. And, some of them might turn, yes, but that isn't why we haven't told them who you really are. Not everyone has your best interest at heart, my girl. There are those that who want to please the Black Queen because they think that it will bring them favor. You have to remain vigilant and careful. You have to stay safe."

"And, what about Red? Does she? Why doesn't she have to be careful?"

"She does, little one. She always has because of her wolf-side. She can't help it. She is out looking for survivors. Every day she searches. Some days she finds some, some days nothing but books and evidence that people were ever there."

"But, why does she go?"

"She is still looking for signs of your mothers."

"She has been looking for ten years. Don't you both think that she would have found something by now? Or, is there something that you aren't telling me, Auntie Belle?" she questioned.

"No, Coraline, there isn't. Red was a good friend to both your mother Emma and your grandmother Snow. She is doing it out of her duty to them. She is doing it to appease her own mind, girl. She needs to know for herself that nothing remains," Belle stated.

"So, she searches aimlessly? Grams and Ma are dead. She knows that right?"

"She does."

"And, how is that safe?"

"Coraline…"

"No, how is that safe? She goes off gallivanting searching for…for…for what? Evidence that my family isn't truly dead? Is it not enough that they never made it, here to Rumple's castle? Is it not enough that they have never sent word here? To us? To you? How is any of this safe?"

"Coraline…"

"No, don't do that. You are both supposed to be loyal to the royal House of White and to me, but she is out there, by herself, doing the gods know what and I'm here doing nothing. How does that help me uphold my legacy? How does that let me respect the memories of my mothers? How does any of this keep their memory alive?"

"Because, you are still alive. You will one day reclaim the throne of the Forest. You will be the Swan Queen. I only hope that I will be there to see you ascend to your throne," Belle told her.

"And, why wouldn't you be?"

"I am not saying that I won't be there. I am just hoping that it will happen sooner rather than later. Coraline, you need to remain calm. I know you are restless. I'll talk to Red. I'll get her to stay home for a while. I am sure that she'll be happy to help you expend some energy."

"Yay, we'll fight and we'll train. That isn't exactly what I mean. Why can't I leave? Why will I always have to stay here? I know that the castles of my family are gone, but surely we don't have to live here forever. There has got to be somewhere out there better than this," Remy stated, as she paced the room.

"Coraline…"

"Look, Auntie Belle. I love you, I do, but isn't there more out there that you want? Isn't this, all of this, our history, worth fighting for? I think that it is. My mothers thought so, too, but yet, we are hiding here in Rumple's castle waiting for confirmation that we have a chance. Chance or no, I want to know what we are really up against," Coraline demanded.

She didn't hear the door open behind. She couldn't see the look on Red's face that was mixture of pain, sadness, and anger. Belle didn't have a chance to warn her. Nor did she think that she wanted to, she knew that Coraline was restless but she also knew that she had this coming.

Belle looked at Red with pleading eyes, hoping that she would go softly on Coraline. She knew that Red was angry. She could see it on her face. Belle tried to stop Coraline line of dialogue and thinking, but she knew that Coraline wasn't going to stop.

"How can we save the kingdom? How can I become the queen the people need if I don't know what I am going to be fighting? How can I become the next savior when I don't know anything besides what is in the books you give me?" Coraline asked, her back still to Red, with her voice raised as she stared Belle down.

"Because we are trying!" Red yelled at her.

"Aunt Red?!" Coraline yelped as she turned to find Red almost on her, both of their eyes burning with rage and emotion.

"If you think that I haven't been trying to find answers for you, young lady, you are sadly mistaken. Everything that I have done these past ten years has been for you and the possibility of resurrecting the kingdom. Yes, I served your Grandma. And, yes, I served your mother. I still do, every day. My whole existence is wrapped up in keeping you alive and the dream that one day you will the Swan Queen. So pardon me for not giving you everything that you desire, your highness, I'll try better," Red replied as she stormed off to her own rooms.

She stopped near Belle and handed her a bag full of books. Belle took them and gave her a pleading look to wait and talk with Coraline. Red shook her head and continued away. Belle let her go, knowing that she was probably fighting her wolf-side and anger. She would give Red time to calm down before she went to her.

Belle looked in the bag. There were several leather bound, embossed, and filigreed books of some sort. She pulled one out to study it. She flipped through the pages and found that it was blank. She laid in on the table and grabbed another. It too was blank, as were the rest.

"Why would she bring back empty journals?" Belle asked aloud not realizing that she had vocalized her thoughts.

"What?" Coraline asked, as she picked on up.

She flipped through the pages and saw a delicate script on the pages. She picked up each book and flipped through them. Each one had the same delicate hand writing. She held open one of them and showed it to Belle.

"You can't read this?"

"Read what, Coraline? There is nothing there. It is blank."

"You can't see it?"

"Can't see what?"

"The writing," Coraline answered.

"There is no writing. What are you talking about? There isn't anything written on those pages."

"Emma has just broken my curse. I am waiting for the masses. I know that they will come for me. How can they not? I wonder if I will be able to hold them off long enough to find a way out. I don't know if my magic will work. It is different here. And, there is the fact that I haven't had to use it in over twenty-eight years. I should call Rumple, or Mr. Gold, as he is known here. I need to know if we have magic again."

"What did you just read?"

"So, I have no magic. But, it didn't matter. Emma saved me. I have tried to kill this woman, drive her out of town and make her look bad to Henry, but she just doesn't quit. I guess she gets that from her parents. I still can't believe that they stood with her on my front porch as she pulled Dr. Frankenstein off me. Why did I name him Whale, again? It doesn't matter. What does is that Emma saved me. I don't understand it."

"Let me see that," Belle said taking the journal from her.

"Is that from Mom?"

"It sounds like it would be her diary, but I don't understand."

"Don't understand what?"

"How come you can read it? There is nothing on the page when I look it at. I know that Regina would enchant certain items, but her journals, what would be the point?"

"To keep someone from reading them," Coraline answered a little sarcastically.

"I know that, but what kind of enchantment is it?" Belle asked.

"Blood magic!" they both said in unison.

"That would explain why you can read it. You are her child. Quick grab another one and see if it is a journal or not," Belle said handing her another journal.

"I actually felt bad for Snow tonight. I know that she doesn't approve of how I do things, but I am trying not to be the Evil Queen. It felt soooo gooood to take his heart. To feel it pulsing in my hands, to know that I held that boys life, but it wasn't like I was trying to destroy him. I was just going to use him to get a message to Henry. He was a means to the end and nothing more. If the boy survives our planned attack on Pan's camp, then I will give him his heart back. I have no need of it now that I have spoken with Henry."

"By the gods, Coraline, these are your mother's journals. Red must have found them in the castle or somewhere. We need to talk to her."

"I…"

"Need to apologize, I know. Give her time. Let her cool off. I am sure that the information that you are looking for is in the journals. Hopefully we have enough. I would hate to think that we are missing some. If we are, we will just have to wait for someone to find the rest."

"I'll go look for them," Coraline stated.

"No, you won't," Red said, rejoining them, completely calm.

Storybrooke, present night

Coraline woke up in bed. It was dark. Her body hurt like a truck had run over her. She sat up slightly only to realize that she was still naked except for the blanket. Her stomach was exposed as were both her arms. And, the only thing that bothered her about the situation was that she couldn't remember how she got in bed.

"Mom, please...don't," she said. It was the last thing that she could remember. She rolled over slightly and grabbed her cell phone. It read: 9:15. She was late meeting Belle and the rest at the Rabbit Hole. She immediately sat up and wished she hadn't.

"Good, you're awake. I wasn't sure how long you were going to be out. You might want to call your sister, Dear, and tell her that you aren't going to make it."

"Wha—"

"If you think that I am going to let you go drink after what you said to me, you more daft than I've thought. Call Belle and tell her that you don't feel well. We have much to discuss. I'll be down stairs in your kitchen, waiting. Don't be long, Dear. I am sure that you know I don't like to be kept waiting," Regina said, standing in the door way.

Coraline held her cell phone a little tighter. She watched as Regina left her alone. She couldn't believe that she had broken down enough under the power of the tattoo's blood magic that she actually addressed Regina as "Mom." She had taken more pain from it before, but this was different. It was more emotional now.

She got out of the bed and grabbed a black wife-beater tank top and a pair of boxers. She put them on quickly. She looked at the phone again. It was 9:24. She needed to call Belle.

She dialed the number and waited for her to pick. She wasn't surprised that it took her a minute to answer. She could already hear the jukebox in the background.

"Hey, Coraline, you still coming?" she asked.

"I don't think so. I don't really feel that good. I think I'm just going to stay home."

"Do you need me to come over?" Belle asked.

"No, I'm good. I promise. I don't think it is bad. If it is, I'll call you back," she replied.

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I am sure."

"Well, how about we get lunch tomorrow?"

"That sounds good."

"You don't sound good, Coraline. Are you sure that you don't want me to come over and check on you? It wouldn't be any trouble," Belle stated.

"No, no, I'm okay. I'm fine. I promise. I'll meet you for lunch."

"Don't you have your meeting with Regina in the morning?"

"I do."

"Then, we'll meet for lunch around one at Granny's."

"That sounds perfect," Coraline replied.

"And, then you can tell me more about the contract that she is giving you," Belle stated.

Coraline winced. She didn't want the contract. Well, she did, but she didn't want to be around Regina that much. She couldn't tell Belle that. Hell, she couldn't even tell Belle what was really going on with her, much less what she was thinking.

"Yeah, I'll see you at one o'clock at Granny's. Give Emma and Ruby my regrets. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I'll tell them why you couldn't make it. Just get some sleep and I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night," Belle replied, ringing off.

Coraline stared at her cell phone. She knew how stubborn Regina was. She also knew that Regina would make good on her word and would still be waiting for her in the kitchen come morning, if she didn't come drag her out of the room before then, when Coraline came down for breakfast. She knew that she would have to get down there soon before Regina came up to check on her again.

Coraline finally decided to bite the bullet and go downstairs. On the way, she stole a glance at the journal sitting on her bedside table. She thought about grabbing it and taking it downstairs with her, but decided that she would make Regina wait.

As she made her way in the kitchen, she noticed that Regina hadn't turned the lights on. She was however sitting at the table with a bottle of McKutchen whiskey and two glasses. She grabbed the bottle and poured two glasses. Regina pushed one of them across the table to Coraline as she sat down opposite her.

"I see you finally decided to come down."

"I was on the phone with Belle," Coraline offered.

"How is your 'sister'?"

"She's fine. She's happy. Does that really matter?"

"No, I suppose it doesn't."

"Then why are bringing her in this?"

"You are very defensive about a woman who isn't really your relative," Regina stated.

"You would be to if she was the one that raised you."

"What does that mean?"

"Exactly what I said. She is the woman who reared me. Forgive for worrying about her."

"Belle raised you, yet, you call me 'Mom'," Regina stated.

"I can't fight the truth."

"Why did Belle raise you?"

"I can't tell you that," Coraline replied, wincing slightly.

"It would be easier on you, my Dear, if you just told me everything and the truth."

"I cannot."

"Why not?"

"It will change the future. You shouldn't even know that I am your daughter. So, forgive me for wanting to maintain some of the features of my past, your future, by not telling you everything. It should be enough that I am here, now, but I know that it isn't," Coraline replied.

"You expect me to believe you?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No, I don't. How can expect the woman who was more worried about the death of her lover than her own child? How can I worry about how you feel in this situation? It is your fault that I am here to begin with. You are the one that told me to cast that damn spell."

"What spell?" Regina asked.

"The spell that brought me here, the spell that you had been working on since your sister died. The time travelling spell that you were trying to prefect when Hell on Earth began, the same spell that is in a leather bound journal that Red found and gave to me. That spell."

Regina looked at her wide-eyed, but she said nothing in response. Instead, she grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured herself another glass. She held the glass in her hands for a few moments, staring at the liquid before she swallowed it all. She sat the glass back on the table and stared across at Coraline again.

"So, Red, gave you my journals?"

"Yes, she did."

"And, what about the rest of your family? Obviously, you should have another parent, friends, someone. Who else is there with you?"

"Red and Belle are my only family."

"Only family?" Regina asked, getting frustrated and angry.

"Yes, the rest of my family died in the battles to save the Enchanted Forest."

"And, that is why you are here?"

"Yes, to save everyone."

"But, if I died as you say, how did I tell you to cast this spell?" Regina asked.

"My mother died one night in my fifth year. My elder brother Henry followed her and Grandpa to their deaths defending the castle. Snow sent Red to warn us of the coming armies. Red barely made it through. Emma died in the field. Snow was never found. Charming, Henry and you, with magic blazing went into the fray while you sent Belle and Red out with me thru the old catacombs and tunnels that you had dug during your Evil Queen days. We ran to Rumple's. It was 'neutral' ground. We would be safe there. We waited as did the entire kingdom for their queens. When weeks turned into months, Red began to search for the bodies. None were ever found. We mourned the loss, but hid my lineage to protect me," Coraline stated.

"That doesn't explain—"

"I'm getting to that!"

Regina was taken aback by her anger. She didn't understand it fully, but she could feel it. She could taste the anger in the air that came off of Coraline in waves.

"I believe I am near twenty-five now. I got into a fight with Red about finding the truth. They hid a lot of it from me to protect me from it, they thought. I fled the safety of Rumple's castle and was capture outside the former White Palace in the Winterlands. How was I to know that even my worst nightmares wouldn't even compare to the treatment that I would receive in the dungeons of my old home?"

"What happened?"

"The Black Queen had taken residence."

Regina didn't know what to say. She didn't know who the Black Queen was but she could guess that this person wasn't good. The venom and anger that Coraline used to describe the culprit were enough for Regina. She didn't want to push the issue, but she wanted to know more.

"I take it that she wasn't impressed with you."

"I should say not. She did keep my prisoner for sixty days. I think that she was more upset that I resolved to die than to join her. She just couldn't understand why I wouldn't just give up."

"She pushed you?"

"Every day was a trial with her. Beatings, starvation, torture, she tried it all. I didn't break mentally, not even when she broke my legs. She tried the most devastating tortures she could think of and then at night would order the guards to make sure that I stayed wrapped up in the blanket," Coraline stated.

"It is a rejuvenation blanket?"

"Yes, so every morning, I was ready for more of whatever she wanted to do to me."

"Why was she so…accommodating with you?"

"Because I believe that I am your daughter. She hoped to turn me into her puppet. I didn't exactly let her have her way. I guess that is why she got more and more violent as our time together progressed. She did seem to have a singular fascination with me."

"I am sure, but you said that I told you to cast the spell," Regina reminded her.

"You did," Coraline answered her calmly.

"How could I do that if I was already dead?" Regina asked.

"There are a lot of things that I can't explain to you."

"And, why is that?"

Coraline reached over and downed her glass of whiskey. She reached across the table and poured herself some more and then downed it. She was about to pour herself another glassful when Regina gave her a disapproving look and cocked her eyebrow at her.

"Well?"

"Just because you don't have all the answers and are my mother doesn't mean that I am just going to tell you everything. Anything and everything that I do while I am here will affect my outcome and my life in the future. And, yes, I want to stop the Blackness, but I can't stop certain things from happening. If I do, I won't exist," Coraline stated.

Regina bit her tongue. She didn't know why but she believed the tale that Coraline was giving her. She wanted to press her for more information but she knew that Coraline would eventually break down and tell her. She didn't want to use the tattoo to make her. If it had been any of her guards, she would have and she knew that her feelings about the young woman had begun to cloud her judgment.

"So, you've come back to save us, but you can't tell us from what," Regina stated.

"Yes."

"Well, that sounds simple enough," Regina replied sarcastically.

"I'm sorry. You have to understand how difficult this is for me. It was hard enough getting here and now that I am…" she started, sighed, and then continued, "It hurts."

"It hurts?"

"Yes, it hurts me. I want to tell you both everything, but I can't. I can't stop myself from being born."

"Tell us both?" Regina asked her.

"Yes, both of you."

"You mean that your father is here? Now? And, you aren't going to tell me who he is?"

"Something like that," Coraline responded.

"Don't you think that it would help in making sure that you born if you told me?"

"Free will...I can't change that. You should know that, Regina. I can't change your free will. You will have to find them on your own. I can't push you towards them. If I do, it could change everything."

"What if you were meant to push me towards them?"

"I have your journals. I know that I am not the one that pushed you into it. You'll just have to trust me on this. I am sorry," Coraline told her.

"You have my journals?"

"Some of them, yes. I have to say that I am not sure why everyone was afraid of you. I think that you have just been misunderstood. You do have a tendency to over react when you are hurt or slighted, but I think that came from your mother's upbringing and tutelage. I get it. Trust me I do."

"Well, thank you, Dear."

"I am sorry. I know that it must be hard for you because I know more about you then you know about me. I wish there was something that I could do, but I just can't tell you everything. I want to tell you," Coraline explained.

"I understand. Of all the people in town, I think that you should know I understand. Whatever you tell me will not just affect your past, but my future. I would like to think that changing your past would be a good thing, but I understand that we will have to do it slowly and wait it out. Do you have some way of knowing what has changed? Is there any way for us to know that we are affecting it?"

"Yes, the journals."

"The journals?" Regina asked, perplexed on how her journals could tell them about the future.

"Yes, the journals. I began to write in the last one. Red gave them to me. It seemed like I should keep up the tradition. I thought that if I studied your journals that they would lead me to some universal truth as to why you left with Belle and Red. I thought that I would understand why my mother abandoned me to go die on a battlefield. I still don't understand it completely, but I am beginning to appreciate it the longer that I am here in Storybrooke."

"You're angry with me. I get that, but why? Can you tell me that?"

"No."

"Well, that is going to make things difficult for us, now isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Will you try to let me make it better?"

"What's the point? It isn't going to change the fact that you left me. That isn't going to change. I know that I shouldn't be mad at you, but it is hard to separate the future you with the now you."

"I don't expect you to do that. Dear. At least just give me a chance to know you now, since I won't be there for you later. I think that is fair. Don't you?" Regina asked.

"No, I don't."

"Why is that?"

"Because I still don't and won't have you when I needed you the most."

Regina's heart broke. Her own daughter was in front of her as an adult and didn't want to have a relationship with her. Suddenly, she was reminded of how Henry acted after he brought Emma to Storybrooke. Her mind lurched forward. She, now, understood how Snow felt when she found out that Emma was her daughter. How could she try and parent her adult daughter?

"I am sorry," Regina replied, taking up the bottle of whiskey and pouring herself another drink.

"You're sorry?"

"I can't apologize for something I did to you? I don't know why I would have left you. I can't explain something to you that I haven't done, yet, but I can tell you this. If I did send you off with Belle and Red, I knew that you would be safe with them. The wolf and the librarian are fiercely loyal and protective. I am sure that I knew you would be taken care of if I wasn't to make it back. I probably didn't think about the fact that I could die. Or, it might have been as simple as the fact that I was trying to get you to safety. I might have sacrificed myself to save you. There might not have been another option that I could foresee at the time. I don't know, because it hasn't happened to me, yet. Don't be angry with me for something that I haven't done yet. Maybe now that I know about it, maybe I don't do it the same way. Maybe I stay with you," Regina stated.

"No, you don't."

"How can you be sure?"'

"Because my memory hasn't changed about the events of that day and the days that follow."

"Would they?" Regina asked.

Coraline found herself sobering at the thought. She didn't know. She had never time traveled. Hell, she didn't know anyone who had except her other mother, Emma. And, she couldn't tell Regina that.

"I don't know. I've never done this before. All I have is what the journals say," Coraline answered.

"Then I know who we should go see," Regina told her.

"Who?"

"Emma Swan, one of your other queens," Regina stated.

"Why?"

"If you've read my journals, you should know. She is the only person that I know that has successfully time traveled. She may be able to help you and by helping you with that aspect of the situation. It could help us work on our relationship. I don't want you to be angry with me. I want to know my daughter."

"I want to know you better too, Mom," Coraline admitted.

"Then give me a chance to help you. I understand your anger. I can feel it. But, let me help you, now. Let me be there for you, now. Maybe this whole crazy thing was meant to happen. The problem is that we don't know. Let me help you." Regina pleaded.

"I have to do this on my own, Regina. This is my problem, my fight. I have to do this my way."

"No, you don`t."

"What would you have me do, Regina? I can't tell you everything. We both agree on that much."

"Talk with Emma. Maybe she can help you. You can't change our past because if effects you. There has to be something that we can do together to help you. The fact that you came here and you say that I sent you means that I wanted to help you. I must have seen something in you that made me thing that I could help you. I know that you have been working with Blue to learn to control your magic better."

"You knew?"

"I've seen it. I understand why you would go to her, now. I am hurt, but I understand it. I would have done the same thing. Plus, you said that she was the one than found you when you came back. I would like to help you with it, but you need to give me the chance. I can help, but only if you let me."

"I'll think about it."

"I'll take that for now, Coraline, but please, give me the opportunity to have some sort of relationship with you. I am your mother. Please give me that little bit of courtesy," Regina stated.

"I will do my best, but I'm not promising anything."

"I understand, Dear. That is all I am asking for. Just give me a chance. Please." Regina begged.

"When should I go see Emma?" Coraline asked, changing the subject back to matter at hand.

"We could go now, but I have a feeling they are all drunk. You were supposed to meet them there, remember? Besides, I doubt that she'll be very helpful tonight. How about we meet with her at my office tomorrow? You are still coming to see me so we can discuss the landscaping contract in the morning, right?" Regina questioned.

"I guess. I will need to call Holly in the morning to make sure that she can cover the store. I don't remember making an appointment with you. Did I?"

"Not officially, no. I was just thinking that we could finish our discussion in the morning. It is getting late and I know that you will need to sleep on some things. I am not trying to push you, Coraline, but I do think that you are the right person for the job. I've seen your work at The Games of Thorns. I know what you are capable of doing. I trust you with the town. That is saying a lot coming from me. I am sure that you are aware of that." Regina told her.

"I am."

"Will you at least consider it?"

"I will."

"I'll leave for the evening, then. I want to talk with you more, but I will leave that open for you. I...I don't know what to tell you, Coraline. I really don't. I can't even begin to imagine what you have gone through and what you are going through. I can only apologize and hope that you will give me a chance. I know that I came here to confront you; that I came at you and used the tattoo against you. I am sorry for that...now."

"Why did you do it?"

"Because when it comes to magic and this town, things tend to happen and I like to stay in the know about it. I don't like surprises when it comes to magic. When we get surprises, bad things tend to happen. I am sure that you read about my dealings in Neverland because of your brother," Regina said.

"Yes, I did."

"Magic is a sore spot for me. When I saw what you could do and I didn't know about it, I became angry and more or less panicked. I pushed you because I needed to know what you were here for. I knew just by the fact that you had magic that you weren't really Belle's sister. Nice accent though, you've managed to adopt that well. I wanted to know what you were about. I needed to make sure that you weren't going to hurt the town," Regina explained.

"I know. I don't fault you for that. I had hoped to keep that from you for a little while longer."

"Were you ever going to tell me who you really were?" Regina asked.

"I don't know."

Regina just nodded. She was hurt that her own daughter was hiding from her in plain sight. It didn't matter that she understood her reasoning. It still hurt. She stood up, preparing to leave, but she hoped that Coraline would either stop her and they could talk some more or she would actually agree to meet with Regina in the morning.

"I'll do what I can."

"Thank you, Dear." Regina said.

"I'll see you tomorrow...Mom," Coraline replied and Regina smiled.