The Evil Queen's Daughter - SEQUEL

Chapter 7

After the emotionally draining day the Mills' women had already experienced, Regina saw no reason to stop her daughter from just apparating inside the castle. The girl wasn't quite used to the process yet, and couldn't shake the dizziness she felt in the aftermath.

"Are you alright, dear?" Her mother asked, giving her a concerned look.

The truth was that she wasn't quite sure. Nila had used her magic to perform a spell of the same kind many times before, why should this time be any different? She nodded and blinked rapidly a few times before replying. "I'm a bit tired, I think I might go and lie down."

The queen smiled slightly. Cora, however, raised her eyebrows and placed her hands on her hips. It was unnerving just how much she looked like her daughter.

"Really? I'd expect my granddaughter to be stronger than that? I didn't raise you to be weak."

"Luckily for all of us, you didn't raise her, mother." Regina defended her daughter pretty quickly. But the woman simply laughed, "Well, dear. You didn't think I'd just leave the baby in the woods, do you?"

Nila scoffed, "Well, isn't that exactly what you did to Zelena?" Secretly, the queen was impressed with this comment, but this was not something she'd endorse in front of her mother, and so she ignored it. "Hang on. You raised my daughter? How? It's not possible; I banished you to Wonderland."

"Must've been until then. Marian found me at a mere six months old."

Regina took a seat next to her daughter on the bed, "And my daughter is strong."

"Hardly. She can't even use the most basic spells without feeling tired. That's a sign of weakness." Cora retorted.

Weakness? Really? How could light magic ever be thought of as a weakness? It was supposedly the most powerful brand of its kind, especially when her magic was the product of true love. And by the sounds of it, everything was weakness to this woman.

Noticing her daughter's expression, the queen wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. "At least my own daughter loves me." And before the woman could open her mouth in response, Regina continued. "Don't you dare tell me that love is weakness, mother. Because love - true love," she corrected herself, "Is the main factor for such strong light magic. And as much as you don't wish to accept it, it's what Daniel and I had. It's what I have now with Robin, and most importantly, it's what I have with my daughter. I can't ever remember feeling the same way when I was with you, mother."

Nila almost audibly gasped, but stopped herself at the last minute. She decided it probably wasn't the best idea to pick sides in this fight, as the girl really didn't fancy being up against either of the Mills' family. And come to think of it, she wouldn't like to be up against Zelena either. If one thing was for sure, she came from a family of badass women, something Nila was more than proud of.

"Regina, you were a difficult child. You always pestered me, and were never independent enough for my liking." The girl couldn't really imagine her mother being dependent on anyone other than herself. It made Nila wonder what happened that changed her.

"I am only what you made me, mother. And did you ever wonder that, perhaps, all I wanted was love?"

Cora wandered away from the pair of them, glancing around the room before finally setting her gaze on her daughter, "I'm sorry." She murmured. Sorry? The Queen of Hearts, notorious for ripping her own out, was sorry? "I'm sorry for the way I treated you, and I'm also sorry for what happened to Daniel. I thought power, a loveless marriage, would be enough for you. But you're right. You're not me, and you do need love. If I'm being totally honest, I guess I'm a little jealous of the relationship you have with your children."

"Oh." Was all Regina could muster before the tears fell down her cheeks. She stood up, taking in a few shaky breaths, and placed her hands on her mother's. Nila stood up too in quick succession. "I guess that's where Zelena gets most of her personality from, then." And instead of a snide response or a death-like glare, the pair simply laughed and opened up their arms. Nila leant her head between the two of them, and noticed how strangely similar they smelled. But even after all they'd done, the pain they'd caused, the girl found a way to forgive them.

"I'm happy you're here, grandmother." She whispered, gazing into Cora's eyes.

"Me too." Regina chuckled, smiling at her unconventional family, whom she loved very much.

"And I'm happy to be with you girls. I think we'll get along just fine."

And strangely enough, Nila seemed to believe her. 

*Author's Note - Don't think this will last, but enjoy it for the time being. Remember to vote and leave a comment, and I'll see you all tomorrow for chapter 8! Love you all! 

Tata!