Long Lost | Once Upon a Time (REWRITING)

Chapter Thirty-Four: A Curious Thing

The Enchanted Forest
Eight Months Ago...

This is not at all how Grace expected to start her day.

"You're throwing a what?" She demanded as she stared at her parents in anger and... in all honesty, fear.

"We're throwing a ball tonight to announce the pregnancy to the rest of the kingdom!" Her mother said all too cheerfully. Grace only sighed unceremoniously whilst raising a hand to caress her oncoming headache. Her mother's confirmation was most certainly not the answer she had been hoping for. The supportive gaze her father sent along with it wasn't helping the situation.

Grace still couldn't grasp their reasoning for it all. "But why?"

Her small demand seemed expected as her mother suddenly gained a determined look. "Because this kingdom needs hope." Her statement only earned a sigh from Grace as she realized what she was on about. Not another hope speech.

"It's too early for this." She let out as to show her vast disdain for this whole thing.

Snow only ignored her resentment. "They need to know that we are on their side and that there is nothing this witch can do to stop us."

Her final declaration caused Grace to look up from her doubtful trance. "What makes you say that?" She let out, only for her father to step in this time.

"Because we are having a baby in the middle of a crisis like this." He spoke, all the while caressing the growing baby bump his wife was currently carrying. "If we can accomplish that, then we can accomplish anything. We just want them to know that they don't have to live in fear because of this witch, because one way or another, we're sending her back to Oz." Grace rolled her eyes at her family's determination when in actuality, they have no idea how to stop Zelena.

"You're so sure about that?" She questioned, her doubt seeming to be a predicted reaction.

Snow only nodded. "Yes. You gotta have hope." At her mother's certainty, Grace sighed in defeat.

"Regina won't be happy about this." She said as one final argument, only for her father to shake his head.

"She'll be fine." He declared before saying, "And besides, since when has her opinion ever changed our minds?" His remark earned a smile from his wife, though Grace only passed a wary look off towards the two. She had a feeling David would soon be regretting that statement.

~<>~

"You want to gather the entire kingdom for this?" Regina snapped with the most wrath she'd felt herself give in ages, all the while stepping dangerously close to the occupants in the large bedroom. It wasn't just Grace and her parents in this room with the woman, but Princess Aurora and Prince Philip were also here to give their view on the parents' decision to deliver the news of their pregnancy to the rest of the kingdom. However, they heard very little from them before the Evil Queen stepped up and completely took the floor. "There's a Wicked Witch out there, just waiting to pounce! And pretending otherwise would be dangerous!" Her bite caused both of Grace's parents to give the girl looks of regret, though that regret was only for telling Regina in the first place. Grace pursed her lips together and silently prayed for this argument to be over, the argument she knew her parents awaited the moment they told her their plans. The only thing Grace had to do this entire conversation was keep from saying, 'I told you so.'

"There's nothing dangerous about rallying our people." David retorted, causing Snow to stand alongside him in agreement with her husband.

Regina looked at them both like they had no idea what they were planning to announce. "You're announcing you're pregnant. It's not like you invented the wheel." Her final argument was never met with a remark, as a cloaked figure suddenly came storming into the bedroom, the oddity of it all causing all heads to turn with furrowed brows.