Chapter 3: Suspicions
Diana dragged her feet as she walked through Town Hall to get to the Mayor's office. People greeted her but she kept her head down, continuing her long, slow walk as if goring to her death. It was only the second day of her indefinite punishment and while Lacey was pretty cool as far as babysitters went, Diana missed having the house to herself. She dressed as she wanted, played music while she did her homework or danced around, read her books, played with her toys-whatever she wanted without anyone being in the way. She loved it.
"Hello, Diana. Did you have a good day at school?" a kind voice broke through her sulking.
Looking up, Diana's heart sank when she saw she was standing outside her mother's office and next to her assistant's desk. Johanna was a kindly older woman who had served as the assistant for several mayors, including Diana's grandfather and great-grandfather. She sat right outside the mayor's office in a little cubicle decorated with a desk and a few filing cabinets as well as some personal knick-knacks Johanna had collected over the years. Diana always liked Johanna and returned the smile the older woman gave her.
"It was okay," Diana replied in answer to her question, not wanting to be rude to Johanna. She was not part of the battle between the supposed mother and daughter. "Still a lot of reviewing to make sure we remember everything we learned last year."
"That does sound boring but I'm sure it'll get interesting again." Johanna motioned to the door. "Go on in. Your mother is waiting for you."
Biting back the urge to snap that the mayor was not her mother, Diana thanked Johanna. She opened the door, ready to face Mom. Her teacher had told her earlier that Mom had spoken to her about her supposed homework assignment the day before so Diana knew she was busted. It had been her mother's late day yesterday so she had gotten home after Diana had gone to bed. Diana hoped she could get away without a big lecture today but she doubted it.
They mayor's office was decorated in earth tones, as Diana knew from her art classes at school. She also had memories of when her mother decorated the office, though she doubted now that they were even real. Still, she could rattle off the name of each color-the rug was canyon brown and the walls mocha cream with harvest gold accents. It made the mahogany colored fireplace stand out more. Chocolate brown couches faced the fireplace with a mahogany coffee table between them. Mom had a book full of pictures of Storybrooke for visitors to peruse on it.
All of that was to Diana's left. On her right was a long, cherry wood dining table with several matching chairs. Mom had meetings with other government officials and her staff members there, usually providing them with food and beverages from the snack bar against the wall. It was stocked with several types of snacks and drinks, as well as a good variety of fruit-except for apples. Even the basket of wax fruit Mom kept on the table contained no apples, something Diana only recently noticed. It intrigued her, just like her mother's fascination with birds. She had several paintings of them hanging on the walls both here and at their house. Diana gave one the side-eye as she stood in the doorway.
"Why don't you grab a snack and then have a seat on the couch? I just need to finish up one thing and then we can talk," Mom said, head bent as she filled out some paperwork on her desk. It was located in the middle of the back wall, right in front of the large windows that overlooked the town. The only other place to offer a better view was the clock tower above Storybrooke's abandoned library. No one went up there, though, as the clock was broken-unable to move forward because the curse had stopped time for the citizens of Storybrooke. It made Diana question so much and she wished she could find the answers, not have to tap dance around her "mother."
For now, she did as her mother suggested and grabbed a granola bar as well as a juice box from the fridge. She then sat on the couch, her book bag at her feet, and waited for Mom to finish her paperwork as she munched on her snack.
It didn't take long for Mom to sit down next to her, tucking her black skirt under her as she did so. She placed a picture frame upside down on her lap before adjusting the pink sweater over her white shirt. Mom leaned closer as she smiled at Diana. "How was your day, princess?"
"Okay," Diana replied, shrugging. She then repeated what she told Johanna.
Mom nodded. "Revision is very important. You need to make sure you have that foundation in order to build up your knowledge."
When Diana shrugged again, Mom pressed her lips together. She then said: "I spoke to your teacher yesterday."
Diana's heart sunk. "I know. Sister Trina told me."
"So I know that there was no survey assignment. I also went to talk to Ms. Mills yesterday as well," Mom continued.
"You did?" Diana asked, her stomach twisting up in knots. "Did she tell you why I was really there?"
Mom nodded. "I wasn't pleased that you lied to me but you were only following Ms. Mills' lead and she was trying to spare my feelings, so I'll let it slide-for now. But we need to talk about your sudden belief that I'm not your mom and Ms. Mills is."
"Because it's true," Diana protested.
Mom's brow furrowed. "Why? Because some book told you?"
Diana knew that when she put it that way, it did sound silly. Yet she also knew in her heart that it was true. She doubted Mom would accept that and would keep pushing until Diana doubted her own heart. Villains were very good at that thing.
"I don't look like you or Dad," she said instead. "I don't feel part of this family."
Mom's eyes filled with tears and she wrapped her arm around Diana. She lifted the picture frame to reveal the photograph of herself lying in a hospital bed holding a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket and wearing a pink hat. "Your father took this the day you were born-the happiest day of our life. You are our daughter-my daughter."
She let Diana hold the picture as she moved in closer. "I know things have been different since your father's accident. I know it's been hard not having him around. It's been hard for me too, trying to be the mayor as well as both mom and dad to you. And I'm willing to admit that maybe I haven't been so great a mom these past few months.
"I have a proposal for you," she continued. "I promise to make more time for you. Starting this week, I'm going to block out a special chunk of time that's only for the two of us. We can do whatever you want-go to the movies, go shopping, have lunch, practice archery. How does that sound?"
It sounded tempting. Diana loved all of those things, especially archery. She figured it wouldn't hurt to spend time with the enemy. Perhaps she could get some answers while lulling Mom into a false sense of security. This appeared to be a win-win situation.
"That sounds great, Mom," she replied with a smile.
Mom smiled but her tone sounded serious as she continued: "Now you need to do something for me. You need to stop all this nonsense about Ms. Mills being your real mother. I spoke with her and she's agreed to have no contact with you."
"What?" Diana exclaimed. She would've jumped up but Mom had tightened her grip. "That's not fair!"
"It may not seem fair but it's for the best," Mom insisted. "I don't want you talking with Ms. Mills either. Instead, I want you to talk with Dr. Hopper."
Dr. Hopper was the town's psychiatric and Diana's stomach twisted at the implications. "I'm not crazy!"
Mom caressed Diana's face as she softened her tone. "Of course you're not. I just think a lot has happened and you need someone to talk to, someone who can help you work through everything. Dr. Hopper can do that. And you won't be alone. We'll also have sessions together to become stronger as a family, okay?"
Though it sounded like she had a choice, Diana knew she was going to see Dr. Hopper whether she wanted to or not. She sighed, her shoulders slumping as she said: "Okay."
"Thank you, princess. Things are going to get better, I promise." Mom hugged her. "And the first step is for you to give me the storybook. I think it's best if we got rid of it."
Diana had been expecting that and she was glad she had already left it somewhere safe. It allowed her to truthfully say: "I don't have it. I gave it to a friend. The book was meant to be shared."
Mom's eyebrow went up but she relaxed, seemingly accepting that answer. "Good. I think we're off to a very good start then."
There was a sharp rap on the door before it opened. Johanna stood there, facing the two. "Lacey is here for Diana," she said.
"Thank you. Tell Lacey she'll be right out," Mom replied.
Johanna nodded before closing the door. Mom stood. "I'll be home in time for dinner. Be good for Lacey."
"I will," Diana replied, putting her book bag on. Mom opened her arms and Diana hugged her, playing along for now.
Mom let her go and Diana headed out of her office. Lacey stood there, tapping one of her blue pumps impatiently. She leaned against the wall, her black skirt ending far above her knees. Her bright blue sequined halter top sparkled in the fluorescent lighting and when she caught sight of Diana, her necklaces clanged together as she straightened up. "Hey, kid. Ready to go?"
"Yeah," she said. "What are we doing today?"
Lacey shrugged, glancing at the door. "How will your mom react if I gave you a makeover?"
Diana looked over Lacey's messy ponytail and expertly applied makeup, admiring them. Though she thought a makeover sounded like fun, she shook her head. "I'm already on thin ice with her and I'd rather keep you as my babysitter."
Lacey laughed. "I'm sure. Or else you'd have to deal with Mrs. Figg again."
"Ugh," Diana replied, scrunching up her nose. "She was the worst."
Mrs. Figg had been her babysitter when she was a little girl. She had been strict with a lot of rules Diana had to follow and only had prunes for snacks for her, which had prompted Mom to start sending snacks with Diana. Mrs. Figg did not own a TV and usually preferred Diana to read quietly, though she did let her play with toys as long as she didn't get too loud and didn't make a mess. As she got older, it was harder and harder to please Mrs. Figg no matter how much Diana tried to obey her rules.
It had been a relief when her parents had decided to trust Diana with more responsibility now that she was older and got Lacey to start watching her at home before only having her come on nights when they had to work late. Lacey wasn't the typical babysitter, though she made sure Diana ate healthy meals and did her homework. She didn't hover over Diana and gave her her space. While it would've been easier to sneak off to see Regina without Lacey around, it still didn't keep Diana from plotting her next move to break the curse and get her real family back.
Regina closed her locker, snapping the lock back into place. She shouldered her bag and headed for the door, once again avoiding her coworkers as she left for the day. It had been a week since Mayor Nolan had confronted her outside work but most still gave her the evil eye, certain that she had done something to upset Storybrooke's favorite daughter.
Of course, they were right but she wasn't going to tell them that. It would only make things worse.
She stepped out into the sunshine and paused, looking around. Mayor Nolan's warning had made her paranoid and she kept looking over her shoulder all week, wondering if someone was watching her already. She hadn't even seen Diana let alone talked with her but still, she worried. The mayor had seemed so angry the week before and had been acting so strangely, she didn't know what would happen to her.
Driving home was no better. Regina had become hyperaware of everyone else on the road in the last seven days. If a car drove too close to her, she broke out into a cold sweat and gripped the steering wheel tighter. Her heart would then hammer in her chest if the car appeared to be following her and wouldn't slow down even after the other car turned or parked. She didn't feel safe until she was back in her house with every door locked. Despite the beautiful late summer weather already carrying hints of an equally beautiful autumn season, she refused to open a window. It seemed too dangerous.
She knew she was being paranoid and irrational. Her logical side tried to overpower her anxious one, providing valid explanations. Some drivers were just impatient and drove close to her in hopes she would move over so they could speed down the street like it was the Autobahn. She lived off Main Street so of course people would be heading in her direction for most of her commute home. No one was following her, no one was watching her. Mayor Nolan had just been angry and hurt, so she had lashed out and made what probably amounted to an empty threat. Besides, Regina was complying with her request. She had nothing to fear, she told herself as she showered off the fishy smell that clung to every worker at the cannery.
A little voice—the one that sounded like the mayor-told her that she did have something to hide. It sat there as she opened the drawer to grab a shirt to change into, serving as a reminder that she hadn't done everything to help Mayor Nolan.
She still had Diana's storybook.
Though clad only in a towel wrapped around her body, Regina pulled out the book and stared at it. She had had every intention of giving it to the mayor, told herself every day she would do it but then never did. It wasn't anything malicious on her part, she wasn't holding it to give it to Diana behind Mayor Nolan's back. She had just grossly underestimated how easy it would be to read.
It wasn't written like other fairy tale books, where each story was self-contained. They were interwoven in this book and whoever the author was had written it with such an immense level of detail that Regina could understand how Diana could believe it was all real. The book had so rich and compelling a narrative that Regina had to force herself to put it away each night. After a week, she barely had reached the midway point of the story.
The story of Rumpelstiltskin had intrigued her and had made her realize that it was going to be different from other fairy tale books. After all, known of them featured him as a human man determined to do anything for his family-even hobbling himself to avoid fighting in a battle where he certainly would've died.
Despite him being modeled after her despised landlord Mr. Gold, Regina identified with Rumple at that point-and she wasn't sure why she shortened his name to a nickname, but it felt right to call him that. Once everyone learned he had injured himself rather than fight, he was shunned by his villagers. Even his own wife rejected him, ultimately leaving him and their young son to find happiness elsewhere. Rumpelstiltskin was a sad, broken and lonely man surrounded by people who hated him and whispered behind his back. It resonated with Regina and her life, though she was ostracized for something her mother did rather than something she did. Still, she rooted for Rumple to find his happiness and find a community of his own-especially as she couldn't.
When he went down a dark path, becoming an all-powerful being, she still wanted him to find his way back to good. He showed moments of it, such as helping Jiminy (Cricket, of Pinocchio fame) when he wanted to be free of his con artist parents, but he turned to evil more and more. She still cried when he lost his son, his reason for everything, as Baelfire had decided to flee to a land without magic rather than continue see his father become less and less human. Rumple was truly alone and though she still didn't understand why, she wanted him to have a better life.
Maybe because she hoped it would mean she could have a better life one day.
Rumple's story then turned into the one she was familiar with—the one where he helped the Miller's Daughter. The book dove into her backstory, a young woman who often had to run her father's mill as he was often drunk. She also worked in a tavern to help provide for her family as well as save up for a better life for herself. There she got lead astray by a man who misrepresented himself and ended up pregnant.
Her name?
Cora.
Regina's blood had frozen when she saw her mother's name written in the book. She had curled up on her bed, wondering if it provided any insight into the woman who had given birth to her. Had Cora dreamed of a better life while stuck with an alcoholic parent? Were people who thought they were better than her cruel to her, like Princess Eva was to Cora in the fairy tale? Did she not really sleep around but had just been led astray by a man who promised her the moon but failed to deliver? Had she really abandoned Regina so both of them could live their best lives?
Storybook Cora had abandoned a daughter as well, leaving the baby in the woods-a certain death sentence. At least her mother had left her in a hospital. Regina wondered if she was the baby abandoned until a magical tornado took the basket to another land.
That was a story for another book, the author had written after that paragraph, though. It made Regina wonder if there was a sequel somewhere and if the baby really had been her storybook equivalent or someone else.
Cora's and Rumpelstiltskin's stories had collided when she had been caught sneaking into a royal ball. She had lied to the king, claiming to know how to spin straw into gold. Rumple agreed to teach her magic, allowing her to become a powerful witch. He fell in love with her and though Cora claimed to have feelings for him, he ended up being just someone she used for her own advancement. Regina once again felt sorry for Rumple and wondered if that version of Cora was closer to her real mother.
There so many questions about Cora Mills that Regina suddenly wanted answers for but she didn't know where she would even start to get them.
Regina stood as she moved from the floor to her bed, gingerly holding the book. She opened it to the last page she had read the night before, where Rumpelstiltskin hoped that Cora would run away with him rather than marry Prince Henry for he had fallen in love with her. Cora, though, wanted the power being a princess would give her and chose to marry Henry, taking out her heart to forget her feelings for Rumpelstiltskin and so emotions would've get in the way of her quest for more power. There was an illustration and Regina ran a finger over the image of Cora.
The woman in the illustration had the bearing of someone who tried to be better than she was in hopes it would come to pass. She had dark brown hair that was piled into a bun on top of her head and cold brown eyes. Regina studied her, believing she could see some of herself in the drawing and wondering then if the illustrator had known her mother. Was this how Cora Mills looked when she gave birth to Regina?
She had never seen a picture of her mother. The sisters certainly didn't have one of her and no one in Storybrooke liked Cora enough to keep a picture of her. Daniel had suggested she look at one of the old yearbooks kept in their high school-certainly they hadn't purged her from there-but Regina refused. She didn't want to see the woman who had given her up, who could walk away from a baby and doom her to a life of loneliness and hatred like Cora had done to her.
Now as she stared at the illustration of Cora, the Miller's Daughter, she was hit with the overwhelming desire to see her mother. She wanted to see if she looked like the illustration, to see if she could see herself in the woman or if perhaps she took after her father more-whoever he was.
Daniel's idea of looking at the yearbook came back to her. She knew she wouldn't be able to walk into Storybrooke Academy to ask to see the yearbook from when her mother graduated. They only got a half-hour for lunch at work and the school was on the other side of Storybrooke from the cannery. She would never make it in time. There was also the fact that Diana attended the school and Regina needed to stay away from her. Regina would need to get the yearbook from another source.
It then hit her and she closed the book. The library had all the yearbooks going back several decades until the library was shut because...of a reason Regina couldn't remember. She furrowed her eyebrow as she racked her brain, trying to recall why it had closed. After several minutes, she gave up and shrugged. No doubt the Town Council had a good reason to close it and Mayor Nolan had one not to reopen it.
She bit her lip, debating her next move. Regina had spent several nights breaking into the library to prepare for her failed proposal and could do it easily to find the yearbook she needed. However, she had raised the mayor's ire and it probably wasn't wise to break into the library right now. Yet her curiosity was getting the best of her. She found she really needed to see a picture of her mother.
Now.
Regina pulled back her curtain and looked out onto the street. The sun was starting to set and her neighbors were returning home from work. She needed to wait a few more hours so she could sneak in under the cover of darkness, when most of Storybrooke was asleep. That gave her time to have dinner and get a little more reading in.
She climbed back into bed and grabbed the book, ready to find out more about Cora and Prince Henry. Especially as they had just welcomed a daughter of their own and were just about to name her. Regina's eyes widened as she read about it, her heart speeding up at one passage:
Princess Cora held up her baby daughter, her brown eyes sweeping the gathered court. These people had spent years looking down at her and now, she looked down on them. She was also determined to make certain her young daughter would rise even higher than them all.
"Her name is Regina," Cora announced, "for one day, she will be queen."
Night descended upon the town. Regina pulled on her black hoodie, paired with her black sweatpants to help her blend in more. She placed the book in a bag and turned out all the lights to make it look like she had turned in for the night. Opening her backdoor, she stepped into her small yard and closed the door behind her. Regina headed out of her gate, creeping along the small path that ran between the houses on her block and the ones on the next one over. The library was at the corner, only a few houses away from her. She held her breath, hoping no one was looking out their windows at that moment to see her.
Regina arrived at the library. She glanced around to make sure no one was around before pulling out a bobby pin. Crouching down, she used it to pick the lock and get in through the backdoor. She closed it behind her and pulled out the flashlight she brought with her, turning it on to light her way to the small office not far from the door.
She flipped on the lights, knowing no one would notice them. There were no windows in the office and it was too far in the back for anyone to see from the street. It had been the place where she had put together her proposal, especially since it had a computer. She hadn't been able to afford one yet, so she was glad to have it.
There was no need for the computer that night. She just went into the office to place her bag down and to just have the lights on to help guide her. Regina didn't want to turn on the other lights in the library, afraid it would draw attention from the street. Instead, she used her flashlight as she found where the yearbooks were kept. She stared at the bright blue bindings, each with a year written in white text. Regina chewed her lip, trying to determine which one would have her mother in it.
She knew the year she was born and so she figured that she should start with the yearbook from the year before, figuring her mother was already out of high school when she gave birth. Regina easily located it and pulled out the book, carrying it to a nearby table. Shining her flashlight on it, she located the senior pictures and flipped through the pages until she found the "M" section. Regina scanned each name before coming upon the one she was looking for: Cora Mills.
Regina looked up at the picture above the name and gasped. The yearbook wasn't in color but the young woman in the photograph looked just like the Miller's daughter in the storybook. Cora even had the same haughty look in her eyes, the one that indicated she thought she was meant for better things than what she was born to and would do anything to get them. Including abandoning her infant daughter and never looking back.
Closing the yearbook, Regina carried it with her back to the office. She opened the storybook and looked for the illustrator's name. On the front page, she found something in small print.
Written and illustrated by I. Heller
She frowned as she sat down, looking over the name again. It didn't sound familiar and when she went through the yearbook, she didn't find the name anywhere. Undeterred, Regina then tried to look up the name on the library's database but nothing came up. She guessed it was a penname but she found it strange that the library had no records of the storybook. Had it been published after the library closed? Regina tried to find a publication date but there was none. There was also no information about the publisher.
Everything about the book was confusing. She wondered where Diana had gotten it and longed to ask her but knew she couldn't. Regina's only choice was to do some more research and try to figure out who I. Heller was.
She gathered up the book, deciding she would continue the next morning and would go home to get more reading down. An idea then hit her. Since she was so worried about having the book in her house, she believed it would be better if she left it in the library. It was unlikely anyone would take it and she get some reading down while researching more about the book. And if the mayor did come to her house, Regina could honestly say she didn't have it there.
Regina leaned back in the chair with a smile and continued reading about the young girl with her name and her likeness as she grew up surrounded by fairy tales and magic.
Snow White skipped down the hallway happily, hoping to spend some time with her new mother. While she missed her mother still with an ache she doubted would ever go away, she was glad that Regina had decided to marry her father after all and not run away with her stable boy. Now she would always be around for Snow and she looked forward to learning so much from the woman.
Not bothering to knock, Snow entered the room with a big smile. "Regina? Are you in here?"
She heard frantic whispers and then someone being hushed. A maid appeared in the doorway, wide-eyed and forcing a smile. "Princess! Was Her Majesty expecting you?"
"No," Snow replied. "I thought I would surprise her. Is she awake?"
"Yes, but she is not dressed yet," the maid replied.
Snow frowned, confused as to why that mattered. "I've seen her in her nightgown before. It doesn't matter to me."
The maid still hesitated and Snow grew frustrated. She pulled herself up to try to make herself taller and held her head high, using her best royal voice. "I order you to let me to see the Queen."
"Yes, Your Highness," the maid said reluctantly, knowing she had to obey an order from the princess or face the king's wrath. She stood aside and let a pleased Snow into the room.
Regina stood in front of her mirror, looking at something on her arm. Snow frowned, trying to get a better look at what appeared to be dark spots there-almost like bruises. Before she could question it, Regina spotted Snow and pulled on her dressing gown. She tied the sash before crossing her arms, looking annoyed. "What is it, Snow?"
"I was hoping we could spend some time together," Snow told her. "Perhaps go riding?"
Regina's eyes widened a bit and she blanched, shaking her head. "I don't think I can go riding today. I...I'm not feeling well."
"Do we need to call the royal physician?" Snow turned to one of the maids, who were just standing there. "What are you standing around for? The queen needs the physician!"
A warm hand squeezed her shoulder and Snow turned to look at Regina again. She shook her head. "I don't need the physician. I just need to rest and not do anything too strenuous, like riding."
Disappointment flooded Snow. "Oh. Could we ride another day then?"
"Maybe," Regina replied, though her eyes didn't meet Snow's. "We'll have to see."
Snow nodded even though she still felt disappointed that she couldn't ride with Regina. Another idea came to her and she perked up. "Can we have breakfast together?"
"I don't know…" Regina replied, looking uncertain as she pulled her hand away. She hugged herself tighter.
"Please?" Snow clasped her hands and looked up at Regina with her best puppy dog eyes. "I just want to spend time together with you."
Regina sighed, nodding. She smiled at Snow. "Breakfast sounds lovely then."
The maids jumped to work, setting the table for breakfast as one went down to the kitchen to get them food. Snow took her seat next to Regina, telling her stepmother all about her plans for the day.
"You should still go riding," Regina told her as she nibbled on a piece of toast. "It's good to ride often if you want to improve your skills."
Snow shrugged as she pushed around her sausage. "It's more fun when you're with me."
Regina sighed. "We can't do everything all the time, Snow. I have many responsibilities as queen I need to tend to."
"Oh." This morning just seemed to be one disappointment after another. All she wanted was to spend time with her beloved stepmother-was that so bad? Why did the universe conspire to keep them apart?
Regina picked up her teacup. "We'll still spend time together, Snow. It just won't be as much as you want."
As Regina sipped her tea, Snow looked back down at her breakfast. She wished one of Regina's official duties was spending time with her every day. How else was she going to learn from her so she became a proper lady when she grew up? If only Regina could replace her tutor…
Snow dropped her fork as an idea hit her. Regina frowned, looking over at her. "Is something wrong, dear?"
"No," Snow replied. "I just lost my grip."
She picked up her fork again, smiling down at her plate. After breakfast, she was going to go straight to her father and get herself added to Regina's schedule permanently. She knew her stepmother would love the surprise and welcome the chance to be with her every day. Their bond would only grow and Snow would be able to be just like Regina one day.
Mary Margaret replaced the last pink pillow on her daughter's bed before running her hand over the pink comforter to smooth it out. All her stuffed animals were back in their proper places as well as her books. Her room looked perfect and like it hadn't been disturbed. Diana would never know her mother had torn it apart to make sure she wasn't really hiding the storybook in her room.
It seemed Diana was telling the truth as she hadn't found the book anywhere in the house. She would check the school just to be on the safe side but she was starting to trust her daughter again.
Sighing, Mary Margaret sat down on Diana's bed and wished she had never stopped trusting her daughter in the first place. However, Diana lately had been acting more and more like Regina. It seemed the curse and over ten years as Mary Margaret's daughter had done little to stamp out the darkness that flowed through Diana's blood thanks to Regina. Sneaking around, being defiant, lying, rebelling-all of those were warning signs and if Mary Margaret didn't do something, she could lose Diana to the same path Regina had walked to become the Evil Queen.
She wouldn't let that happen.
Mary Margaret reached out and picked up Diana's teddy bear. She held it to her chest and closed her eyes. Everything had been fine for ten years. Diana idolized her, wanting to spend as much time with her. It seemed that Mary Margaret had saved her just in time and was able to undo whatever damage Regina had no doubt done to Diana in her first ten years, setting her on the course to good rather than evil.
It hurt her to know Diana wanted to go back to Regina but blamed it on the curse wiping her memories. Diana didn't remember the type of person Regina truly was but Mary Margaret did. She had spent eight years idolizing Regina, imitating Regina, loving Regina and the entire time, Regina had been plotting how to kill her. She then chased after Snow for years, bent on destroying her all because of one secret she hadn't kept. Only someone with no heart, no conscience could do that after years of spending time with Snow, making her believe she was loved. Regina didn't know how to do that. All she was was a very good actress.
Tears rolled down her cheeks and she brushed them away, angry that she still felt hurt over Regina's betrayal. After all these, years, she hated that she still cared about the young woman who had saved her life and been so kind to her. She hated that every happy memory she had with Regina was now tainted with the knowledge that her stepmother wanted nothing more than to kill her. All that hatred made her blood boil and she began to pace around the room, still clutching Diana's Teddy bear.
A little voice inside her asked if she was letting her own anger and hatred color her opinion of Regina. It seemed her stepmother had reformed, redeeming herself in the eyes of the people. She had even married a man known to be honorable and good, so he must've seen something in her. Perhaps Regina had changed and had been a good mother to Diana after all.
Mary Margaret shook her head. It no doubt had been all an act-the good queen, loving wife, doting mother. Regina had fooled them all but Mary Margaret knew better. She knew the real Regina and knew she could no longer hurt anyone in Storybrooke. Regina had gotten exactly what she deserved.
She placed the bear back in its place on Diana's bed, feeling more confident. Diana believed in a fairy tale of two loving parents. Mary Margaret knew life with anyone raised by the likes of Cora only led to pain and heartache. She just had to show Diana what real mother looked like and shower her with love and attention. It was all about spending time together.
Catching sight of Diana's bow and quiver, she got an idea. She took them and retrieved her own before heading out to her car. Mother and daughter would spend the afternoon together and she would start to re-establish their bond. Given time, Diana would forget about Regina and all would be well.
As she climbed into her Mercedes, Mary Margaret watched a green truck drive down the street. White lettering on the door read Locksley Locksmith. It reminded her that there was another victim, one who was most likely innocent like Diana. However, Mary Margaret knew it was better for him to be away from Regina. And it was best for Diana to be away from him.
Sacrifices were necessary for the common good after all.
Regina sat in the examination chair in Dr. Whale's office, trying not to shiver. The thin blue examination gown she was given provided no warmth. It didn't help that she was also nervous having never had a gynecological exam before. She knew should've gone for one earlier but often convinced herself that she was fine because she wasn't sexually active. Now, though, she needed to have this examination.
She leaned back, closing her eyes. This was ridiculous and she knew it. She had continued to read the book and had grown more freaked out. First, Cora in the book looked just like her mother. Then she had given birth to a daughter named Regina, who grew up to look just like Regina. As storybook Regina entered womanhood, she fell in love with a young stable boy named Daniel-who looked just like Regina's first and only boyfriend. She had even pulled their yearbook to confirm it, unable to trust her memory at that point.
Her research had also proved fruitless, leaving her unable to track down any information on I. Heller or the storybook. It was as if magic had created it and I. Heller didn't exist. The mystery kept her up at night and she started to wonder if what Diana had said was really true-everything in the book was real, meaning Diana was her daughter.
Regina, though, knew it was impossible. She had never even had sex, let alone given birth. Yet she was even doubting that now, leaving her to prove to herself that it couldn't be true. Dr. Whale's examination should do just that.
Dr. Whale walked into the room, closing the door behind him. He seemed to be the only doctor in the hospital as he saw different types of patients for a myriad of conditions. Regina often saw him as her regular physician and he had been the one who had treated her broken foot. The fact he was also the only gynecologist on staff concerned her. If she hadn't been on such thin ice with the mayor, she would've suggested that Town Hall should look at the hospital's staffing policies. It didn't seem right that one person did so much.
He sat down on the rolling chair, opening her file. "So, Regina, what brings you here today?"
"I figured it's about time I come for a regular checkup," she said, trying to sound as normal as possible. "You've always been on me about getting one even though I wasn't sexually active."
"Well, I'm glad you're finally heeding my advice," he replied, rolling over to her. "Put your feet in the stirrups and let's get started."
She nodded, doing as he said. Regina stared at the ceiling as Whale examined her most private parts, doing her best to ignore his off-color remarks-such as claiming to be "boldly going where no man has gone before." She got it; she was a virgin.
It still wasn't funny.
His joking manner faded away and he rolled back over to the desk, flipping through her file. Whale frowned, a crease forming between his brows. He rolled back toward her. "Regina, I am going to ask you a few questions and I need you to answer me honestly. There will be no judgments and you have nothing to gain by not telling the truth. Do you understand me?"
"I do," she replied, suddenly really nervous. She had never seen him act or sound so serious. It almost made her miss his borderline-unprofessional asshole ways.
"Good," he said. "Now, are you really a virgin?"
"Yes," she replied, her stomach twisting in knots.
He nodded. "You've never had sex?"
"I was under the impression that's what being a virgin meant," she deadpanned.
His eyebrows went up and first, she thought she had insulted him. She wasn't a sarcastic person as the sisters had washed it out of her when she was a little girl. Sometimes she could still taste the soap they used. After her initial panic receded, though, she realized he was impressed by her response.
Yet she knew he had asked her to be honest, not sarcastic. Before she could apologize, he asked: "Have you ever been pregnant or given birth?"
"No," she replied, her stomach knotting up again.
"Are you sure?" he pressed, leaning closer. Suddenly the examination lamp felt more like the spotlights detectives shone on suspects to get them to talk in old movies. "Remember, Regina, no judgments, no condemnations. I just need the truth."
Regina held her head high and looked Whale right into his blue eyes. "I have never been pregnant, never given birth, never had sex."
"That's what your file says," he replied, leaning back. The crease between his brow deepened, now reaching his forehead. "The problem is your body is telling me something different."
Her heart dropped. "It's telling you I had a baby?"
Whale nodded. "It wasn't recently but you show signs of childbirth."
"Can you tell how long ago it was?" she asked. Given Diana's age, she would've given birth ten years ago if her theory about Regina being her birth mother was true.
"It's not an exact science," he replied. "We can't carbon date you or count rings. All it tells me is that you gave birth but not recently."
He tilted his head, studying her. "Why? Do you have a specific time frame you're thinking of?"
She shook her head, feeling a bit guilty for lying but knowing she couldn't tell him about Diana's theory. He would think she was crazy and might tell the mayor. "I just thought maybe it could help me figure out what happened. How can I forget being pregnant and giving birth?"
"I don't know. That's not my territory," Whale said, reaching for a business card on the desk. He handed it to Regina. "For that, you need to talk to Dr. Hopper."
She was familiar with the town psychiatrist, having seen him and his dog Pongo around town. Regina also knew where his office was and had considered seeing him about her issues stemming from her childhood. But she figured he wouldn't tell her something she didn't already know-she was destined to be alone-so it seemed futile. Maybe he could help in this case-figure out when she had been pregnant and why she had forgotten it, convince her that her child isn't Diana.
"Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome," Dr. Whale said, still serious. "I'm not going to lie, Regina. While this isn't my area of expertise, I do have some understanding. If you've forgotten about this pregnancy and birth, it may be for a reason. You may be opening a can of worms you're not prepared to deal with."
Regina glanced down at Dr. Hopper's card. She knew that Dr. Whale's warning was right and that she probably was going to deal with some kind of trauma she had been suppressing. Her life was going to change and was probably going to get worse, knowing her luck. Yet she couldn't go back to before she knew she had given birth. And she needed to know what became of the baby.
"I can't spend the rest of my life not knowing," she said, "and so I'll deal with the consequences, whatever they may be."
Dr. Whale nodded. "I hope you get your answers then, Regina."
She thanked him and he left her to change, telling her to head to the reception area to pay. Regina changed back into her clothes, tucking Dr. Hopper's card into her jeans. She hoped that he could help her and already started to figure out her resources to discover if she had a child out there. It wasn't going to be easy but she was determined to find him or her.
However, a little voice told her that she had already found her daughter. Or rather, her daughter had already found her.
A/N: So you guys got a sneak peek at Robin. I promise he'll eventually enter the story, but the Snow/Regina relationship is very important to the plot so I need to build that up. Please be patient. I promise the Outlaw Queen stuff will be central once Robin enters and will be worth the wait.
Regina now has some proof that things aren't the way they appear. Will Dr. Hopper be able to help her? Will she try to reconnect with Diana? And as she gets further into the storybook, will she be encouraged or scared by the Evil Queen? Find out in the upcoming chapters!
Once again, Inspired by OQ Week is coming up. You are welcome to create something inspired by this story or any other story. If anyone would like, I could put up some fancasts of what Diana looks like. Keep an eye on Twitter this weekend.
Thanks for reading! I hope everyone has a good weekend!
-Mac