Once Upon A Curse

chapter 4

The enchanted forest years ago

Regina sat in her castle, staring out over the balcony at the kingdom she reigns with fear. She has all the power she could ever want, but there was a void in her heart. She was coming closer to casting her curse with each passing day, but something was missing, a child. Only she could not have children due to the spell she casted upon herself to spite her mother.

"Whats, wrong dearie?" Regina turned as she heard the voice of Rumpelstiltskin. She saw the dark one sat smugly in her chair with a signature smirk across his face.

"Why bother asking when you already ?" Regina replied bluntly, not wanting to deal with his antics while she wanted to be alone.

"Ah yes, you now have decided you want a child. Too bad you didn't think of that before you drank the potion, " he said muckily towards the already agitated queen. What if I told you there was one way. He said.

"How?" Regina demanded stepping towards the man. "I have to warn you dearie, you will not get a baby. If this spell were to work, they will be born from your conscience, meaning they will already be grown."

"But they will be of my blood correct, they will be mine?" Regina asked softly, smiling at the idea of having a child even if they were already grown.

"Yes, they will," they will, "

"Your magic always comes with a price, so what is it?" Regina asked bluntly."You see the spell requires a strand of hair from a mother and a father. And my price is I need to be the father of this child." Regina's eyes widened at the dark ones' request.

"You? why would you want to do that?"

"Cause dearie, this child will be the product of true darkness. She will be powerful and will be able to get us anything we want, so do we have a deal?"

*Storybrooke present day*

Layla once again began the day with her brother missing. Her mother really needed a security alarm. She left her mother to search for him as she knew where her little brother would be hiding.

Layla climbed the steps of Henrys castle and took a seat next to the boy. "You've got to stop running away, Henry."

"I know, I just can't be around a woman who has lied to me my whole life." Henry argued back, causing Layla to sigh."Henry, she hasnt lied to you." "Yes, she has, she's lying to everyone, including you. Your name isn't Layla. it's Ciara."

As Layla opened her mouth to respond to her brother, they heard footsteps walking towards them. They turned to see Emma making her way towards the siblings.

"Hey Henry, Layla." She said, standing next to them. "Layla, if you knew where he was, why didn't you tell your mom?" Emma asked as she was confused why she didn't say anything when Henry first went missing this morning.

"Because I knew he wouldn't want to talk to her, I have to go to work, but will you be okay talking to him?" she asked Emma as she stood up. Of course, Emma said with a smile. I'll see you at home, Hen. Layla said but sighed as he didn't answer her, so she left him to talk to Emma in hopes he would open up to someone.

After work, Layla returned home to a quiet house, meaning her mother wasn't home yet. She made her way to her bedroom and collapsed on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. She began to think about what Henry kept saying about the fairytales and wondered why hes so convinced theyre real. She played with the charm of her necklace that she never takes off, but it never occurred to her she doesnt know where she got it from.

*The enchanted forest past*

Hook and Ciara were laying in Hooks bed together, tangled beneath the sheets in each others arms.

"I got you something, love." Hook said and reached into his jacket pocket that was laid across the floor.

"Got or stole?" Ciara teased as Hook laughed at her. "Does it matter?" He asked. "No." Ciara said with a smile. Hook pulled out a beautiful silver necklace that had a small charm in the shape of a ship that looked like the Jolly Rodger.

"Killian. It's beautiful." The princess said with a smile and leaned forward to take the necklace from his hook. "Thank you." she said and puled him in for kiss.

"I hoped you'd like it," Hook replied as he began planting kisses down her exposed skin as she clasped the necklace behind her neck. The couple smiled lovingly at each other before beginning another round of what they had started earlier.

*Storybrooke present*

Layla heard the front door open, so she walked downstairs to see her mom, Emma and Henry stood by the entryway. Henry then rushed past her up the stairs, and a couple seconds later, the women heard his door slam behind him.

"Thank you." Regina said, breaking the silence of the room. "No problem." Emma replied awkwardly as she began to back up slightly.

Layla spoke from her spot on the stairs "Hes seemed to have taken quite a shine to you." At the mention of Henry liking Emma Layla saw her Moms shoulders become tense and watched a forced smile creep on her face.

Emma laughed awkwardly before replying, "You know what's kind of crazy? Yesterday was my birthday, and when I blew out the candle on this cupcake I bought myself, I actually made a wish. That I didn't have to be alone on my birthday. And then, Henry showed up." she was cut off by Regina

"I hope there's no misunderstanding here." Regina said bluntly

"Im sorry?" Emma said, slightly intimidated by the woman.

"Dont mistake all this as invitation back into his life." Layla added to her mothers comment to try and save Emma from an escalating argument her mother was looking to start.

" Oh." Once again, Emma was cut off by Regina saying, "Miss Swan, you made a decision ten years ago. And in the last decade, while you've been well, who knows what you've been doing. I've changed every diaper. Soothed every fever. Endured every tantrum. You may have given birth to him, but he is my son."

"I was not." Emma tried to defend herself before being interrupted by Regina again.

" No! You dont get to speak. You dont get to do anything. You gave up that right when you tossed him away. Do you know what a closed adoption is? It's what you asked for. You have no legal right to Henry, and you're going to be held to that. So, I suggest you get in your car, and you leave this town. Because if you dont, I will destroy you if it is the last thing I do. Goodbye, Miss Swan."

Regina made her way up the stairs, leaving Layla and Emma in the hall. Layla cleared her throat before saying, "Thank you for finding Henry." She said with a genuine smile. "It's no problem, I should go." Emma replied, making her way towards the door.

"Does she love him?" Emma asked, causing Layla to scoff at her ridiculous question. "Of course she loves him, and so do I, goodbye miss Swan." Layla responded before closing the door on Emma and headed off to bed.