12

                                    

                                          
It's been about a week since Regina was released and I have no clue where she is. The last I heard she was with her mom, which definitely means trouble. I've tried calling her multiple times but she's practically fallen off the grid. I'm really worried about her, especially because I have no means of contacting the brunette. After pacing a hole in the floor, I decide I need to do something about this. 
Everyone has told me to just leave it be, that she'll return when she's ready. They don't understand though, something about this is off. I don't know what Cora is up to but I know it's no good and whatever she has planned, she'll rope Regina into it even if it kills her. I've never seen a more toxic mother-daughter duo up close; she may love Regina but her way of showing it... not so spectacular. 
I head over to the last place anyone wants to be: Gold's shop. The little bell dings and I wait patiently for him to reveal himself. "Well, well, never thought I'd see you coming in for my help" he snickers, "can you be decent for once and help me find Regina or will you be a crippled prick all your life?" I quip and he smirks devilishly. 
"With that attitude I'm not sure I can do anything for you, dearie" she states, "I'm not apologizing but I'll try to be nicer from now on if you agree to help me" I reply firmly. The door suddenly slams open and we both turn to look at it. "Found her" he sighs, "where is it, rumple?" Cora asks menacingly with a smile on her face. 
"How do you expect me to know what 'it' is? I have a lot of items in my possession, you'll have to be a bit more specific" he says as he tilts his head, "her heart, Gold. We know you have it" Regina spats. I watch as she clenches her fist, she clearly hasn't seen me yet. "Now that's where you're wrong, dearie. Do you really think I'd be so foolish as to keep it here if I did have it?" he smirks and he's even beginning to piss me off with this. 
"Then you must know who does" Regina speaks up, "I don't—but you could ask her, she came in here looking for you" he states as he gestures to me. "What are you doing here?" Regina asks harshly and I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. It's not the question she asked, more so how she asked it; as if she was angry with me for something. 
"Dear, she doesn't know—she's much too stupid to bother herself with such complexities" Cora waves dismissively and I frown, before I have the chance to reply she clutches her chest and tries stabilizes herself on the counter. "Mother??" Regina exclaims, "I'm fine" the older brunette says through gritted teeth. I'm tempted to say that karma's a bitch but Regina is obviously already upset so I don't push it. 
"Shit" Cora mumbles before falling to the ground and Regina crumbles to her knees. Snow comes rushing through the door but stops in her tracks once she sees the scene. She looks remorseful for some reason and I quickly put it all together. I see Regina look at her and I recognize that look in her eyes. She's in pain and shit is about to go down if they remain in the same room, it doesn't help that charming is right on her heels. 
"Go" I state simply in Mary Margaret's direction and David pulls her back as he nods. Gold disappears into the back and I slowly approach the kneeling brunette, seeing the tears lining her eyes that are desperate to fall. "I'm here" I whisper as I place a hand on her shoulder and her breathing shudders. 
Her relationship with her mother was obviously complicated but she was still her mom. No matter what she's done, a part of Regina still yearns for her love; despite it being the worst thing for her. "Help me lift her, please" she asks and I do, she then teleports us to her house and we lay her on the couch. "I'm finally gonna kill myself a princess" alright her wording could've been a lot better but that's not important. 
"We don't even know she was involved" I point out, "oh, please. She ran in there with a guilty look on her face, what more evidence do I need—she's had it coming" she's grumbles as she heads toward her bedroom. "Look... I know you may not want to hear it but maybe she did what she felt was right" I say, "Why are you defending her?" she turns around and asks me angrily. 
"I'm not. I care about you, Gina, which means I'm not going to lie to you. You're hurting and I understand that. Which is exactly why I think it's important to take some time before making any decisions" I state. I didn't particularly like Cora and though it pains me to see Regina hurting, I know she's better off without the woman. 
"Mother was right about you" she scoffs and I blink rapidly in confusion, what did that bitch say about me—I mean bless the dead but good lord. "She told me everything; how you're from the enchanted forest. I don't know how you found Storybrooke or why you're here—what you've done—but you need to leave" she says dangerously. 
"Gina-" "don't you ever call me that again" she seethes. "Regina... you don't understand—let me explain" I plead, trying my best to get through to her even though part of me knows it's pointless. I'm devastated, I wanted to be the one to tell her so I could ease her into it gently. I know she feels betrayed and of course she does, it hurts when you feel like everything you know is a lie. 
However, I also know the brunette is bluffing. Cora couldn't have possibly told her 'everything' because she barely knew me personally. Regina is the only person that truly knew me there and our time together was brief on a grand scale. "Get. Out. Get out of my house!" she screams and I flinch, never having heard her be so angry. 
I know she's hurt and as much as I want to stay and explain, it's not the time, she won't be receptive to it. I put my hands up and back away, turning around and promptly leaving. I sulk all the way back to the apartment, mindlessly dragging my feet on the sidewalk. I need to take this time to reflect, my own memories only recently surfacing has been jarring. 
I need to sort myself out and find the right words to say the Regina when I see her again. I'm determined to get through to her, to regain her trust; even if it's the last thing I ever do.