I am so sorry that I have taken so long to get this chapter up to you! I know excuses excuses but I have been incredibly busy recently. I have been on holiday, down to England to see family friends and then they came up to Scotland to celebrate my birthday and have been doing things practically every day so have had zero time to write anything. But I have managed to catch up slightly and so here we have a chapter. I am going to try and sort out a regular updating system so that I can get a chapter up every week so I will try figure that out! Anyway I will stop with the chat and let you read. Let me know what you think! :-)
Zelena and Henry got home to their loft and as soon as Henry entered he dumped his backpack in his usual spot and kicked off his shoes. Zelena followed him in and rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile on her face. "Henry what have I told you about kicking off your shoes just anywhere?" Zelena said with a slight firm tone to her voice.
"Not to?" Henry said slowly as he turned to face his mother. Zelena nodded her head and pointed to the shoes and Henry quickly walked back over and picked them up. He then looked up at his mother and bit his lip a little. "Mom I need to tell you something…"
"You do? Well why don't you pop your shoes away and then you can come and tell me while I prepare us some ice cream?" Zelena suggested.
"Okay." Henry replied giving Zelena a quick smile. He then turn around quickly and ran up the stairs to his bedroom. He quickly dumped his shoes by his desk and then ran back downstairs and over to the counter in the kitchen. He licked his lips as he saw a bowl of ice cream with strawberry sauce and sprinkles. Zelena pushed the bowl over to him and he immediately started to dig in.
"So what is it you need to tell me then Henry?" Zelena asked before she took a mouthful of her plain ice cream.
"Erm …" Henry hummed out and looked down at his bowl of ice cream. How did he start this conversation? His Auntie told him he needed to tell his mother and he knew he needed to but how did he tell her without her feeling hurt at him wanting to meet his birth mother? "For a little while now I have had this feeling…This feeling that I need to meet my birth mom…" Henry started and he watched as Zelena stopped eating her ice cream.
"You have?" Zelena asked trying to keep her emotions in check. She knew this day would come but she didn't think it would be so soon.
Henry nodded his head. "I don't know why I just have. So I looked around using the internet and well…I found her…"
"You did?" Zelena asked raising her eyebrows a little.
"Yea…and I may have invited her to Storybrooke and she may be arriving at some point tomorrow." Henry said saying the last part quietly and slowly not knowing how his mother would react.
Zelena gasped and choked a little on the ice cream she had just eaten. She coughed a little and then looked up at Henry eyes wide with surprise. "Your birth mother is arriving here in Storybrooke some point tomorrow?" Zelena asked.
Henry nodded his head. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner mom I just…I didn't want you to feel hurt because I wanted to meet my birth mom. I wasn't sure how to tell you without hurting you."
"Oh Henry…" Zelena said softly and she reached over and cupped Henry's face in her hands. "I'm not hurt that you want to meet your birth mom. I knew that you would one day. If you had told me we could have found her together."
"I know. I'm sorry." Henry sighed sadly.
"It's alright. Do you know what time your mom is coming?" Zelena asked.
"It won't be until late evening. She has to work and then drive here from Boston." Henry replied. "Her name is Emma Swan and she sounds super cool. She said she can't wait to meet you too. See who decided to give me my best chance."
"Well I can't wait to meet her." Zelena said giving Henry a smile but inside she felt a little sad and jealous of this woman she was going to meet.
Regina had finished cleaning the dishes and had dried them and put them away. After that she quickly sneaked up to her bedroom and as she closed the door behind her she leaned against it letting out a sigh. Pushing herself off the door she walked over to the mirror in her room she sighed again as she saw the bruise that had appeared on her face from when her mother had hit her.
She was going to have to cover that up for Henry's birthday dinner tomorrow. Tomorrow she was allowed to leave the house with her mother and father for Henry's birthday dinner at Grannies diner. She was excited but also a little scared. She walked over to her bed and flopped down onto it.
There was a knock at her bedroom door and she sat up and looked over to the door just as her mother entered the room. Her breath hitched as she had no idea what her mother was going to do or say. Cora closed the door behind her and she walked over to Regina. She moved her hand to place on Regina's face and Regina flinched at the movement but Cora ignored that. "Oh Regina look what you made me do to your beautiful face."
"I'm sorry mother." Regina replied quickly and quietly.
"We are going to have to make sure we cover that up for tomorrow won't we?" Cora said as she sat down beside Regina on her bed.
Regina nodded her head but stared down at her lap. "Yes mother."
"I expect you to be on your best behaviour when you are out with us tomorrow Regina. I want you to stay close to your father and I." Cora said.
"I am sure I will be able to handle myself mother." Regina said without even thinking what she was doing. Cora gave Regina a look and she sighed and said "I will do as you say mother."
"Good girl." Cora said as she stood up. She leaned down and placed a kiss on top of Regina's head.
"Don't make me do what I did to you tonight Regina. I ask you to stay beside your father and I because I want to protect you. It's for your own good." Cora said.
"I know mother. I will do as you say." Regina replied.
Cora nodded and she walked out of the room, closing the door and leaving Regina alone once again. Regina flopped back down on the bed and let out a sigh. She just wished she could break free of her mother. She didn't understand why her mother felt she had to stay in this damn house all the time. She was sure she could more than handle herself out in the world. She wanted to live her life, to feel free.
Later on that evening, once Zelena had gotten Henry to bed she picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts. She got to Regina's number and pressed call holding the phone to her ear.
"Hello…" Regina answered after a couple of rings.
"How long have you known Henrys secret?" Zelena asked right away. She wasn't annoyed with Regina but she knew Henry would have told his Auntie his secret. He told her everything.
"What secret?" Regina asked and Zelena smirked and rolled her eyes at that.
"I know you know Regina. I'm not mad." Zelena replied.
She heard Regina sigh on the other end of the phone. "I only found out this afternoon when you both came over and Henry and I went out to the den. I told him right away that he needed to tell you before his birth mother turned up tomorrow. How are you feeling about it?"
It was Zelena's turn to sigh. "I'm not quite sure. I knew that one day Henry would want to meet his birth mother I just…"
"Didn't realise it would be this soon?" Regina finished off Zelena's answer.
"Yea." Zelena breathed out. "But I'm not angry…just a little…I don't know. I guess I am feeling a little sad and jealous."
"This woman won't replace you Zee. You have been the one to raise Henry. You have comforted him when he has been ill, or when he has gotten hurt and when he has had nightmares. You have been there through all of that and this woman will know that. She won't take Henry away from you." Regina said.
"I know." Zelena sighed. "I'm sure it will all be fine. How has your night been?" Zelena asked.
"Okay…" Regina replied.
"And what's the real answer? What has mother done to you?" Zelena asked.
"It was my fault…" Regina replied quickly.
Zelena hated how quick Regina was to jump and defend their mother for her horrible actions but then she realised that Regina really didn't know anything different when it came to their mother. Their mother always told her whatever she did was for Regina's own good and Regina believed it every time. "What has she done to you Regina?" Zelena asked again.
"She…hit me…" Regina said slowly. "I was clumsy and I smashed one of her plates when doing the dishes. She wasn't very happy about it so she slapped me."
"Are you okay? Are you marked?" Zelena asked worry showing in her voice. She hated leaving her sister there with her mother. She wished she could have Regina with her.
"I'm fine…just a bit of a bruise but nothing I can't cover up for tomorrow." Regina replied. "Is Henry excited for his birthday tomorrow?" Regina asked quick to change the subject.
Zelena smiled. "Yes he is. Took me ages to get him off to sleep tonight."
Regina laughed a little. "Will you both be over here early tomorrow? I'd love to spend some extra time with him on his birthday."
"I'm sure I could bring Henry over early so you can spend more time with him. I know Henry won't object spending more time with his favourite Auntie." Zelena replied and Regina laughed again.
It was the next morning and Regina had woken up bright and early, pushing herself up from her bed she stood up and walked over to her door where her dressing gown was. She put it on and then made her way out of her bedroom and down stairs to the kitchen. She yawned and she walked into the kitchen, grabbing some bread and putting it in the toaster she then went over to the fridge, getting some orange juice and pouring herself some.
Leo walked into the kitchen smiling as he saw his young daughter. He walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, leaning over he kissed her cheek. "Good morning Regina." He said softly.
"Good morning daddy." Regina replied, turning round to face Leo and giving him a smile.
Leo however did not return the smile and frowned as he saw the big purple bruise on Regina's cheek. He reached up and placed his hand on Regina's cheek. "Regina what has happened to you?" Leo asked.
Regina frowned for a minute not sure what her father was on about and then it came back to her, her mother hitting her and the bruise on her cheek. She bit her lip. "Erm…It was my fault…" Regina replied.
"What was your fault? What do you mean?" Leo asked.
"It was nothing daddy. Honest. Like I said it was my fault." Regina replied. The toast popped out of the toaster and Regina quickly moved over to the counter, placing the toast on a plate and buttering it. She then placed her knife in the sink, picked up her plate of toast and her juice and walked over to the table sitting down.
Leo followed his young daughter. He wasn't going to take her answer as the final answer. He wanted to know what had happened. He had a feeling he knew who gave her that bruise. "Regina…" Leo started as he sat down in a chair beside her. "Tell me what happened please." He said placing a hand on top of hers stopping her from eating her toast.
Regina sighed. She knew she wouldn't get out of telling her father about what her mother had done to her. "I smashed one of mothers plates. She wasn't very happy about it so she slapped me. Like I said it was my fault. I should have been more careful."
"Regina that is not your fault. It was an accident your mother should not have hit you like that." Leo said.
"Well…I…She said it was my fault…" Regina said quietly. She didn't know who to believe, her mother or her father. Was it her fault or was it not?
Leo sighed and was about to reply but stopped as Cora walked into the room. He stood up from his seat and walked over to where Cora stood. "Cora why did you hit Regina?" Leo asked firmly.
Cora looked up at Leo, scowl on her face and then looked over to Regina who was still sat at the table but stared down at her plate of toast. She really didn't want to cause any trouble. Cora looked back at Leo. "She needed to learn a lesson. Didn't you Regina?"
"Ye-yes mother." Regina replied quickly.
"She smashed a plate Cora, that is no reason for you to hit our daughter!" Leo all but shouted. Sometimes he really couldn't believe the way his wife was.
"Well you mean my daughter. She's not really yours is she?" Cora smirked.
"Mother…" Regina said quietly. She hated when her mother said things like that. She only done it to hurt Leo and it always worked. Regina considered Leo her father. He was all she had known for a father.
"You know what I give up with you Cora!" Leo shouted and then stormed out of the kitchen leaving mother and daughter alone.
Regina watched as her father left and sighed. Cora walked around the counter and slammed her hand on the kitchen table making Regina jump. She then reached forward took Regina's chin roughly in her hand and brought Regina's head round so that she was looking at her. "What did you tell daddy then Regina? Did you make yourself out as the little innocent one?" Cora asked mockingly.
"No mother…I didn't. I said what happened. I told daddy it was my fault." Regina replied trying to swallow back the tears that were threatening to fall but she was struggling. Her mother's grip on her chin was really beginning to hurt.
"Always got to get daddy on your side haven't you? You are so ungrateful, stupid girl." Cora said and she moved her hand from Regina's chin but quickly brought it down to slap against Regina's cheek.
Regina whimpered as the harsh slap hit her and she brought a hand up to her now burning, stinging cheek. She didn't fight the tears anymore. She just let them fall. Why bother trying to stop them?
"I told you not to make me do this again Regina. I told you that I expected your to be on your best behaviour and now look what has happened!" Cora said as she pushed herself away from the table.
"I'm sorry mother…" Regina said through her tears.
"Oh stop your crying Regina. Grow up!" Cora said, her voice raised. She then turned on her heel and stormed out of the kitchen leaving Regina alone.
Regina tried to stop her crying but she found it hard. Her cheek was once again stinging and she hoped she didnt have more of a bruise to try and cover up. She hated her life here in this house with her mother. She needed to get out. She needed to find a way to break away from this life and live another!