What the Heart Wants (Sequel to Pixie Dust Never Lies)

Chapter 11

By the time we arrived at the sherriff's station, the Charmings were already waiting for us. We pulled up alongside David's battered red truck. I got out of the car and walked around and opened the backseat door. My mother stared up at me, accusation burning in her eyes. I couldn't stop the feeling of guilt that arose in me at her expression; she was, after all, still my mother.

"I'm sorry it had to be this way," I said sincerely.

"Me, too," she replied dryly.

I sighed. "You gave me no choice."

She glared at me. "Weren't you the one that said that there is always a choice?"

Her spiteful words hit me much harder than I thought they would. Although I knew what I was doing was the hero's way, but my mother was once again making me question what the right way was. I shook it off; I woudn't fall prey to my mother's deceptions again.

I stepped aside and Emma took my place, starting to escort my mother out of the vehicle. But she shook her off. "I think I'll walk myself inside, if you don't mind," she spat. Emma shrugged, and stepped back. Mother straightened herself and exited the car, her head held high like the queen she always wanted to be. We walked inside with Emma leading the way. I took up the rear to make sure that my mother didn't get any bright ideas. We lead her to the interrogation room and left her inside so we could talk to David and Mary Margaret before going in to question her. All four of us sat behind the two-way mirror, looking in as we conversed.

"Regina, is there any reason she'd want to be in Storybrooke?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Besides me, I doubt it," I replied. "Usually she's after power, but I doubt that she'd make the mistake of going against all of us again."

"So you really think that she came here just to make things right with you?"

"Well, she has her heart in her chest for the first time since before I was born so...it's possible." I tried to keep my face expressionless, even though inside I felt like I was being torn apart. Emma put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I looked at her and smiled in gratitude. No matter what I did, Emma always saw right through me. She always knew exactly what to do to make me feel better.

I took a deep breath. "Okay. Let's do this."

Emma and I walked into the interrogation ton, while Mary Margaret and David stayed behind the two-way mirror. As we took our seats, I could feel my mother's eyes burning into my skull. Part of me wanted to scream and yell, to ask what in the world I ever did to make her want to destroy my happiness. But years as the mayor of Storybrooke taught me to set aside my emotions and keep my expression calm and cool.

"Cora," Emma greeted her coldly. She was using her Sheriff's voice: authoritative and slightly harsh. She only used this voice with those she was absolutely certain was guilty. Cora nodded curtly in response. "You up for having a little chat?" Emma continued.

"You're welcome to talk if you like," she responded. "We could start with how you've corrupted my daughter."

"I think I'll be asking the questions around here," Emma asserted. "I think a great place to start is: What the hell are you doing in Storybrooke?"

"I came to see my daughter," she replied. "I wanted to make up for my past mistakes; to be the mother I was always supposed to be."

"And you thought the best way of doing that would be to break into our home and start making threats? Great plan."

Mother's face fell. She looked like she wanted to cry. "I was never planning for any of this to happen," she whispered. Then she looked up at me, tears beginning to form in her sad eyes. "I just...I just wanted to see you, and tell you how sorry I am."