Regina had argued intensely with Cora that night, just like so many other times. To calm her, you led her to a clearing, far from the castle and the burdens you both carried as princesses. Under the starry sky, you listened in silence as she vented, complaining about how her mother made life unbearable. The flow of words only stopped when you pointed to the sky, telling her to make a wish.

A shooting star.

Regina sighed, her gaze following the shooting star that illuminated the sky. You closed your eyes for a moment and made your wish: to build a family with her.

Two months later, Regina’s wish was finally revealed.

“I’m pregnant.”

The world seemed to stop. You felt confused, desperate, a pang of pain rising within, imagining betrayal. But before you could react, Regina gently held your face, her touch disarming your fears.

“I wished for a chance to be a better mother than Cora…”

She whispered, smiling softly, as she took your hand and placed it on her belly.

“I guess... my wish came true.”

The Enchanted Forest, of course. The magic of this place was so powerful, it could change lives. Your tension melted into relieved laughter. You embraced her, covering her face with kisses, your hand gently caressing her belly with a radiant smile. The happiness of building a family with Regina filled your heart.

But then, Regina’s expression shifted. Her joy was replaced by sadness.

“Wait...”

She said, pulling away slightly. Regina gripped your hands tightly and looked deeply into your eyes.

“My mother accepted King Leopold’s proposal... on my behalf. I’m going to marry him.”

Shock paralyzed you. The dream you had just begun to build seemed to slip through your fingers. The only solution that came to mind was to run away, and you immediately told her that’s what you both should do, but Regina hesitated.

“No, wait... maybe this will soften my mother’s heart… maybe she’ll accept us if she knows she’s going to be a grandmother.”

She murmured, clinging to that childish hope