Well this is a new story.

First time on this fandom so little excited but also apprehensive. Always found Cora and Regina the best characters in OUAT along with Maleficent so thought I would write my own story, so to all those die hard's out there sorry if this falls short of expectations... I have tried to watch them all to get them in cannon.

anyhoo hope readers like and if all goes well then there will be a second chapter... but it's completely up to you guys.

Happy reading. :)


Cora stood over the edge of the crib staring down at the wriggling new-born lying snugly wrapped in blankets. She eyed the little girl who was waving her tiny first about scrupulously, going over her little face with a fine eye looking at every little detail.

Already for a baby born just three days ago, Regina had turned out beautiful. Not that Cora expected any less of a future queen and took great pleasure in knowing that soon she would present the little girl to the kingdom in mere days… already she could imagine them fawning over her like the idiotic fools they were. She smirked and ran a finger down the soft silky cheek as the tiny babe gurgled.

Since the day of the birth she had allowed no one near her, not even Henry, though not for lack on his part as he had been eager to see his new-born daughter. The fool hopelessly standing outside the door just waiting for a chance to be allowed in… like that was going to happen. No, the man may have been royalty but he was of the weak kind, the type of royal that liked to mingle with the commoners, the peasants and the poor. Liked to help those who refused to help themselves, it made her sick.

As it was he spent most of his time down in the lower towns… going around the kingdom travelling back and forth before returning home at first she didn't mind him leaving, the less she saw of his weak self the better left her to plan her daughters future. But when he returned home one day days before the birth he had brought with him a terrible cold which he had caught from one of his outings.

She had been horrified when he sneezed in front of her and it took all her willpower not to throw him magically out the door, and back to the town he picked it up, how dare he come near her with a vile, disgusting thing such as that? Didn't he know it was bad for both her and the baby?

Well. She wasn't quite sure if the babe could be affected so close to birth but it gave her another excuse to keep him away as he had done so and all others right up until that very night. Some might have called it new Mother instinct, the need to keep their young protected… others may have called it paranoia but she didn't care what they thought. She had her reasons for keeping the little girl locked away. Regina grabbed a hold of the finger so close to her face and pulled it down a little nearer to her, Cora watched fascinated slightly at how she took comfort from the small digit. She knew she should have found it at least tender… cute in some way, but she didn't.

She felt nothing.

Just like she would continue to keep on feeling empty right up until her daughter sat on the throne of this realm… afterwards… who knew.

"Well, well. Isn't this just a touching moment"

Her finger retracted harshly from the baby making her gurgle in discomfort as Cora turned to glare at the unwelcome intruder. She faced the imp standing by the window with an emotionless mask as he watched her.

"What do you want?" He let out a small cackle and moved further into the room all the while being watched with hawk like eyes. He picked up a stuffed rabbit and held it in his hands for a moment before spinning and looking back at her.

"Is that anyway to greet an old friend?" He asked, his voice dripping with false hurt. She didn't move her eyes never wavering off his. "What. Do. You… want." The imp was silent for a few moments before putting the toy down and as quick as his arrival was, he was closer to her in a split second making her shift slightly but still never moving.

"I think you know dearie."

They stared at each other, never backing down until his eyes lowered to the crib that held the tiny girl. Cora followed his movement and finally broke her statuesque stance to take a step back.

"You can't have her" He stops in his tracks and looks to her again before letting loose another peal of shrill giggles. She glances back to the baby only to turn and find her gone from the crib, her blanket all that remains. She spins back around on hearing a little laugh and looks on at the sight of her daughter within the arms of the man she had originally promised to give her up to.

If she had a heart it would have thumped wildly in her chest as he lifts his hand and smiles as she grabs hold of it just like with Cora's she pulls it closer to her face before attempting to gum the top of his middle finger.

"Give her back." He stares widely amused at the child's antics before focusing back on her irate mother who is glaring. A small pout adorns his face as he begins to bounce the baby in his arms earning a little giggle of happiness.

"Aww, but why would I deny her this" He asks her keeping her tight to his chest. Cora's face hardened on seeing him act fatherly towards the baby, her skin chills at the sight of them so close and she does all she can not to just walk over and rip her from him… though they both know he would leave well before she could try.

"She's tired. It's past her bedtime." He giggles again and lets Regina chew his fingers again. "Now dearie you know as well as I that babies have their own schedule… and it seems this little one is far from being tired."

He continues to rock the little child in his arms all the while making Cora edgier by the second; she really needed to get her away from him before he decides to ask questions.

"So… where is the lucky father then, hmm?" He asks looking back over to her as she bristles slightly at the question. "Around… he will be coming in shortly."

Rumple tuts and shakes his head before looking back to the wide-eyed baby, and with a put upon voice speaks to her. "Now mommy, we mustn't tell lies… tell old Rumple the truth."

"If you think for one second that I lie—"

"But I do." He smirks widely, "I know for a fact that you haven't let anyone other than the nurse and yourself see the little one… not even allowing the doting dad to catch a glimpse of his only child, really Cora are you that heartless"

It's a dig at her; she knows it but refuses to let him get to her as she stands straight. "He's been sick; I didn't want him passing anything on to her that would be hard to fight off." The imp nods silently and glances at the babe again pursing his lips.

"Or is it the fact that dear daddy… might not be just that."

There it was. The whole reason for his visit as she moves to sit down keeping Regina on his knee, she follows him now smirking at having gotten just why he had come to her as she speaks.

"… You think she is yours?" Her tone is mocking and slow which makes him glower for a second before it's gone and he shrugs, feigning indifference. "Well, she is a very powerful little baby I can feel that from here… the only person she could have gotten that from is you, but even you didn't have this much starting off, oh no and I doubt our beloved fool out there holds anything close to what counts as magic."

"Magic is not the only thing out there… and it's not the one thing that counts" She looks at him as he waggles his finger, "Ahh! Of course… power."

"The only kind that matters" She adds as he nods. "If you say so my dear, but tell me this? Does Henry know of your little trip out all those many months ago? That adventure to the forest… fresh air and taking in the sights?" Her silence makes him laugh again as he tends to Regina once more.

"Of course he doesn't… his poor heart would be crushed, not literally of course… but my guess is he would have called off your wedding all the same."

"She isn't yours" She repeats to him cutting his speech short as he stares at her through glittering eyes before shrugging. "If you insist but it still baffles me about why you would go to all the trouble to keep him away… if you have nothing to hide"

Staring at him hard she takes her chance. Knowing that it could backfire badly but now she's had enough. With a snap of her fingers Regina is engulfed in purple smoke as she disappears from his lap and back into her arms once more. He looks down at his now empty lap and fakes shock before smiling madly at the angry woman.

"Get out." Jumping to his feet he makes a show of bowing to her and goes to the window, she watches him go never moving from her spot Regina tight to her chest. He gets to the double doors leading outside but spins on his heel once more to face them.

"You may be content to deny me our deal. But let me assure you, it will end badly." She doesn't speak just glares at him as he eyes them.

"You may have all your little hopes and dreams pinned on that porcelain cherub. But if you think for a moment any will come true… well, you mustn't have read the fine print when you agreed me what's in your arms."

Her eyes drop to the babe as the black-haired little girl plays with her hair and she looks back to him. "You don't scare me."

He laughed again and shook his head. "Oh my dear, it's not you I have to threaten…" He looks back to Regina. "It's your future"

He bows once more before turning and opening the doors. "You will regret this day Cora, mark my words dearie." He strides out but calls loud enough for her to hear.

"And your downfall will be glorious." Before he is gone leaving one normally stoic woman shaken