Chapter 7: The Stranger in the Red Cloak
The morning at Granny's Diner was as quiet as it could be for a place that saw its fair share of early risers. A few patrons dotted the booths, but it wasn't yet crowded, giving the space a calm, almost serene atmosphere. Regina sat across from Emma and Henry at a cozy booth, nursing a cup of coffee as she waited for Trina to arrive. The soft chatter around them was comforting, but Regina couldn't shake the restlessness gnawing at her, especially after her conversation with Robin last night, had left her feeling uneasy.
Henry was absorbed in his phone, occasionally glancing up to see if anyone interesting walked in, while Emma sat back, one leg casually crossed over the other, watching the world outside the diner through the window.
"So, when is Tink getting here?" Henry asked, glancing up from his phone.
Regina placed her coffee cup down, offering a soft smile. "She said she'd be here in about ten minutes."
The bell above the diner's door jingled, signaling the arrival of a new customer. The figure cloaked in a red hood stood for a moment at the door, surveying the room. The faint rustle of fabric followed as the mysterious figure scanned the diner, eyes darting from table to table. There was an air of calculated observation about her, as though she was searching for something—or someone. As she removed the hood to reveal her face, the low hum of conversation seemed to falter, and patrons glanced up, shock flickering in their eyes. But no one dared approach the newcomer—with a very familiar face.
Regina didn't notice immediately, her back still partially turned to the door. But Emma, facing it, stiffened ever so slightly, her attention drawn toward the woman. Henry, ever alert, was the first to react, glancing up from his phone with a curious expression. His brunette mother, still oblivious, continued sipping her coffee, unaware of the stranger's approach.
"Mom," he whispered. "Look. That lady..." Henry trailed off.
"Regina," Emma whispered urgently, her voice low but insistent. "Why is there a second you walking towards us?"
Regina finally turned, following Emma's line of sight. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes landed on the figure—who was, by now, only a few steps away their table. It was a younger version of Regina—too similar to be coincidental. The resemblance was so striking, it was impossible to ignore.
Before Regina could gather her thoughts, Henry, ever the curious one, broke the silence. His voice was clear and inquisitive, his eyes never leaving the woman as she neared. "Are you Reina?" he asked, the name slipping out without hesitation.
The woman paused, and a soft, amused chuckle escaped her lips. She didn't seem offended, more curious about the confusion than anything else. With a playful glint in her eyes, she tilted her head slightly.
"I've been called many things," she said with a lighthearted smile. "But being mistaken for Reina? That's a first."
Regina's heart raced, her mind scrambling to make sense of what was happening. Her eyes flicked between the woman and Emma, then to Henry, trying to catch up to the strange situation unfolding before her. The woman's voice, so eerily similar to her own, made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
Standing up from the booth, Regina's voice was steady but edged with confusion. "Who are you then?" she asked, her gaze sharp as she took a step toward the mysterious woman.
Before the woman could respond, Granny appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Her eyes caught the sight of the woman standing near the table, and she froze, her expression shifting from casual to shock. The color drained from Granny's face as her gaze locked on the woman in the red cloak, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"Princess Rebecca?" Granny asked, the words barely escaping her lips, filled with disbelief.
The woman—Princess Rebecca—met Granny's gaze, her features softening with recognition. She nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Hello, Granny," she said quietly, her voice carrying a tenderness that contrasted with her earlier playful demeanor.
Granny's shock seemed to melt away in an instant. Her arms opened wide as she took a few quick steps forward, and without a second thought, she swept Rebecca into a bear hug.
The action was so sudden and full of affection that it left Regina momentarily stunned, her mouth slightly agape and her heart thudding in her chest. Her mind was racing. Princess Rebecca? The woman in front of them wasn't just a stranger—she was someone from Granny's past, someone important.
"It's good to see you again, Your Highness," Granny said, her voice thick with emotion, almost choking on the words as she held Rebecca tightly.
Rebecca pulled back from the hug, her eyes now focused on Regina. The recognition in her gaze was unmistakable. She smiled softly, her expression tinged with something Regina couldn't quite place.
"Princess Rebecca?" Regina repeated, her voice laced with both confusion and awe. "Who are you really?"
The diner was still as though time had stopped. Regina stood frozen, trying to comprehend what was happening.
Rebecca's gaze met hers, calm and unflinching. "Rebecca Eugenia Mills. Your daughter."
The words rang out, echoing in Regina's ears. Her breath hitched, and her heart raced in her chest as her mind scrambled to make sense of what she had just heard. Another daughter? How was that possible? She had just discovered Reina and Trina, the daughters she never knew existed, and now... now, there was this woman, standing before her, claiming to be her daughter too?
Regina looked between Emma and Henry, her voice trembling slightly. "I… I have a third daughter?"
Emma's eyes widened, her surprise mirroring Regina's. "Wait, what?" She turned to Henry, who was staring at Rebecca with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "We're just getting used to Tink, and now—"
Before anyone could process the full weight of Rebecca's revelation, the door jingled once again, and Trina walked in. Her eyes immediately landed on Rebecca, and without hesitation, her face lit up in recognition.
"Becca?" Trina's voice cracked with emotion as she rushed toward her sister, her arms opening wide. The two women collided in a fierce embrace, one that was filled with years of missed moments and unspoken words. The emotion was palpable, the reunion between the two sisters raw and powerful.
Regina, still trying to grasp everything that had just been dropped on her, watched the scene unfold. The shock of learning she had another daughter was only heightened by the sight of Trina and Rebecca holding each other tightly, tears in their eyes.
After a long moment, the two women pulled away from each other, both wiping at their eyes. Trina looked at Regina, Emma, and Henry with a soft but knowing smile, as if she were the one now guiding the scene. "Guess you've met the third Mills now," Trina said, her voice laced with humor, though her eyes still glistened with emotion.
Henry, who had been absorbing everything with wide eyes, suddenly connected the dots. His face lit up with recognition. "Wait... so you guys are the Mills Three that's mentioned in my storybook?"
Trina turned to him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, Henry. As the three daughters of Regina Mills, we were given the nickname 'Mills Three' because we were always together."
Rebecca nodded, her expression softening as she met Regina's gaze. "That's right. The three of us—Trina, me, and Reina—used to be inseparable."
"Usually causing a ruckus," Granny added fondly from the side, a warm smile gracing her lips as she remembered the days when the Mills sisters were young and full of energy.
Rebecca and Trina shared a laugh, a sound filled with nostalgia and warmth. The bond between them was undeniable.
Trina then turned her attention to Rebecca, her gaze softening as she took in their mother's stunned expression. "So, you know mom," she began gently. "You remember our brother too, right?" Trina's eyes sparkled as she made a pointed out, "And, of course, the sheriff."
Rebecca didn't miss the warning in her sister's emphasis on sheriff. Rebecca's gaze flicked to Emma. "Sheriff Swan," Rebecca greeted her warmly, as though their connection were already understood, even if unspoken.
Emma's smile was polite, though she could see the subtle undercurrent of something deeper in Rebecca's eyes—a shared history, perhaps, or at least the awareness of one. "Nice to meet you," Emma said, her voice calm but curious. "Did you say your middle name was Eugenia?"
Rebecca nodded as the Sheriff gives a pointed look to the mayor, "What the Hell, Regina! Even Granny?"
The brunette mother of now four just sat there with her mouth open, unsure of what to say.
Henry, wide-eyed as ever, spoke up once more. "Wait… we're all family?"
Trina chuckled, shaking her head in affectionate disbelief. "Yes, Henry. We are. All tied together by Regina—our mother."
Regina, still reeling but now feeling a sense of quiet wonder, finally spoke. Her voice, though still a little shaky, was warm with sincerity. "Well, Rebecca, welcome back?. It's… a lot to take in, but I'm glad to meet you. Would you join us for breakfast?"
Rebecca hesitated, glancing at Trina and then back at the table. Her eyes flicked toward the door briefly, as though she were considering something important. The hesitance lingered in her stance, and she gave a small but apologetic smile.
"I would, but I really need to speak to Trina," Rebecca said softly. "There's something urgent we need to discuss—family matters. It's… it's important."
Regina nodded, the understanding in her gaze clear. "Of course. But when you're ready, please, join us."
Rebecca seemed to relax a little at Regina's words, the tension in her shoulders easing. "Thank you," she replied softly, her voice genuine.
Trina placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, and pointed to an empty table.
She turned to Regina and Emma, her voice firm but warm. "I'll join you soon. I promise."
With that, Rebecca and Trina stepped away from the table, moving toward a quieter corner of the diner. Their heads leaned close together as they began speaking in low voices, and though their words were a whisper, the weight of them hung heavily in the air.
Regina, still processing everything, turned to Emma and Henry, their faces reflecting the same sense of awe, confusion, and wonder that she felt herself.
"Well," Emma said, after a long pause. "This certainly wasn't what I expected for breakfast."
Henry grinned, his eyes still wide with excitement. "I mean, how cool is this? A whole new sister!"
Regina couldn't help but chuckle softly, though her heart was still racing with the shock of it all. "I think it's just going to get more interesting."
Emma smiled, squeezing Regina's hand across the table. "I think that's an understatement."
As three sat together waiting for two-thirds of the Mills Three, the normal hum of the diner seemed to return, but there was a sense of anticipation in the air now, a sense of something new unfolding. Whatever the future held, Regina knew one thing for sure: it was going to be a lot more complicated—and a lot more full of family—than she had ever imagined.
Trina and Rebecca sat at a separate table, the diner's quiet buzz feeling distant as they focused on each other. Trina's eyes were fixed on her sister, her worry palpable as she leaned in slightly, her voice lowered to a whisper.
"So, tell me," Trina began, her gaze flicking to the door to make sure no one else was eavesdropping. "Where's Reina? Why have the scouts been here for almost a week, and we still haven't heard from her or the main army?"
Rebecca's face darkened as she folded her hands on the table, her posture tense. "I don't have all the answers, Trina." Her voice was quiet but firm, a sense of frustration evident in her tone. "I only arrived here yesterday. I do not know where Reina is or why she has yet to show." She paused, clearly struggling with the weight of what she was about to say.
She took a deep breath before continuing, her voice shaking slightly as she spoke. "Reina was supposed to arrive right after me but..." Rebecca hesitated, her brow furrowing. "Something went wrong."
Trina leaned in closer, her voice tense now. "What happened?"
Rebecca's gaze finally met her sister's, but there was an unease in her expression that made Trina's stomach twist with dread. "When the portal closed, I didn't feel Reina's presence. I thought maybe it was just the chaos of everything happening so fast, but now… now I'm afraid." She bit her lip, her hands curling into fists on the table. "I think Reina might have been lost. Or worse... trapped in the portal when it collapsed."
The silence between them was heavy, the weight of Rebecca's words sinking in. Trina's breath hitched in her throat, a feeling of dread creeping up her spine. Lost? Trapped in the portal?
"But... how? We've never heard of a portal collapsing like that before," Trina said, her voice thick with disbelief.
Rebecca's face was pale, and her eyes were haunted. "I don't know. It shouldn't have happened, but we're dealing with something more powerful than any of us expected. I think Reina might've been caught in some kind of magical anomaly when the portal collapsed. I'm not sure if she made it through or if… if something happened to her."
Trina's mind spun with the implications of her sister's words. She had always known that portals could be dangerous, but the idea that Reina, their brave and fearless sister, could be lost in one was something Trina hadn't even considered.
"I've been trying to find a way to get to her," Rebecca continued, her voice breaking slightly. "But the portal's magic was unstable when I came through. It's why I couldn't bring anyone else with me."
Trina nodded, her expression hardening. "We don't even know where to begin looking. If Reina's trapped in a collapsed portal or somewhere else—how do we even find her?"
Rebecca leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes and sighing in defeat, "I honestly don't know but I won't give up. Reina wouldn't give up on us."
Trina nodded, her mind already starting to race with plans and possibilities. "We need to tell mom. Maybe she can help us find a way."
Glancing at the mayor who was watching them, Rebecca nodded in agreement before turning back to her sister and cautiously continuing. "There's more," her voice barely above a whisper. "The reason Reina is arriving earlier than initially planned is because… it's Emory." She paused, swallowing hard as she said his name. "Our brother has been kidnapped by the Freedom Fighters."
Trina's reaction was immediate. "What?!" She shot up from her seat, her voice loud and sharp enough to draw the attention of nearby patrons. "Kidnapped?!"
Regina and Emma both turned instinctively at the outburst. Regina's eyes narrowed slightly, surprised by the intensity of Trina's reaction. Emma, who had been facing the table, shifted in her seat, her posture tense as she glanced over at Trina, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Rebecca quickly reached out to grab her sister's arm, her voice urgent and low as she tried to hush her. "Trina, please—keep your voice down!" She looked around nervously, making sure no one was overhearing their conversation. The last thing they needed was to draw attention to the gravity of the situation.
Trina took a deep breath, her eyes wide with disbelief as she lowered her voice to a whisper. "You're sure it was them who took him?"
Rebecca nodded her head, her lips tight with frustration. "Yes. All I know is that the convoy assigned to escort Emory back to the Dark Kingdom was ambushed. Somehow they had access to a time portal and Reina was able to track them to this time frame. She ordered the scouts to follow the smaller group here while we fought the rest of the Freedom Fighters and dismantled their time portal."
Trina's mind was racing, but Rebecca wasn't finished. "Aunt Zelena was able to create a temporary portal for Reina and I to travel through but Reina didn't make it with me. I waited 24 hours before coming here to find you."
Trina's hands clenched into fists on the table, her eyes burning with determination. "I'm done waiting," she said, her voice low but intense. "We need to get the Freedom Fighters talking, soon. Whatever it takes."
Rebecca's eyes were fierce, her voice steady as she looked at Trina. "I'll help you, Trina. But we need to be smart about this. We can't take on the Freedom Fighters without a plan."
Trina nodded, her expression hardening. "We'll have more than just a plan. We have mom."
The sisters exchanged a brief but powerful look, a shared understanding passing between them. The stakes had never been higher. They were facing a battle on multiple fronts: finding Reina, rescuing Emory, and ensuring that the rest of their family was safe.
As they stood up, ready to rejoin their family at the booth, all eyes were on the two princesses. The diner patrons watched in silence; their curiosity piqued by the two young princesses who radiated such undeniable poise and the quiet power they seemed to possess.
Regina watched as her two newly discovered daughters made their way back toward the booth, and she couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. They moved with such poise, each step measured and deliberate, the very essence of royalty in motion.
As they approached the table, the diner seemed to hold its breath. The patrons, waiting to see how the mayor will react.
The former Evil Queen in a rare moment, offered the two sisters a welcoming smile, one she's only given to her son.
"Madam Mayor?" Rebecca's voice called out, her tone hesitant but warm. "I was wondering... if the offer to join you for breakfast still stands?"
Offering Rebecca a smile. "Of course, dear," she said, her voice smooth and genuine. "We'd be happy to have you join us."
Henry, sitting across Regina, nodded in agreement, his smile widening. "Yeah! Let me pull up an extra chair."
Rebecca's face brightened at his enthusiasm. "Always a gentleman."
Regina had nothing but pride for her son who gave up his seat for his sister. Her glance moved from her son, now at the end of the table to her daughters, Trina beside her and Rebecca across the table. "So, is there anything you'd like to talk about?"
Her daughters exchanged a brief glance, one that didn't go unnoticed, and Trina shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Even Rebecca, sitting quietly across from Regina, seemed to be holding something back.
After a moment, her doppelganger daughter cleared her throat, glancing at her sister before speaking, her voice soft but determined. "Maybe we should have breakfast first. It's... best to talk when things aren't so public," she said, her eyes flickering to the surrounding diners, who were still glancing their way.
Regina could sense the weight of whatever was hanging between them. Whatever it was, it clearly wasn't something they could share openly here. She leaned back slightly in her seat, offering them a soft, understanding smile. "Of course," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "Perhaps after we can retreat back to the mansion?"
Trina's lips twitched upward in a small, relieved smile, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "Thanks, Mom," she said quietly, the appreciation clear in her voice.
Rebecca, who had been quietly observing, also nodded.
Regina's gaze softened as she looked at her daughters and son, her family. As Ruby arrived to take their orders, the conversation shifted, lighter now, and the tension that had briefly filled the air began to ease. For now, at least, the worry about whatever they needed to discuss was temporarily put aside in favor of a simple breakfast, shared among family. But Regina knew, deep down, that whatever was coming would require all of her attention—and all of her support.