Chapter Text
Rumplestiltskin watched the face of his daughter for the first time with fascination. She was sleeping heavily, sucking her thumb eagerly and looking nothing as majestic as her name suggested. Regina. There was no trace of his curse on her skin, she didn't look like she was Dark One's daughter.
Regina moved softly and, before Rumplestiltskin could disappear, was looking at him with her dark eyes, so different from his or her mother's. After a long and strong yawn, she raised her tiny arms as if asking him to hold her. With sadness, he backed away from her, restrain himself from holding her.
Not being able to have his daughter in his arms was a terrible fate, but his deal with Cora was clear: she would keep the baby as long as he didn't claim her. The terms were written with care and not even the Dark One was able to find a hole.
For Regina's sake, Rumplestiltskin would have to let her be raised by another man. Cora needed her daughter to marry a noble so she could socially ascend. That wasn't on their contract, of course, but Rumplestiltskin knew Cora enough to recognize that her true intentions.
The sorcerer thought about breaking off their deal, it wouldn't be the first time. But would he be able to take care of a little girl on his own? Rumplestiltskin had no expectations on Cora being a good mother, but Henry was a good man surrounded by good people. Regina would be happier with him.
When he didn't hold her after a some seconds, the baby started crying. He looked at her for a moment, trying to figure out what he'd do next; then, he conjured a small flask. With a flip of his wrist, the flask was filled by a transparent fluid: the girl's tears.
Why was he doing that? He didn't quite know. Tears have special properties, magical ones, but he didn't have any intention of using his daughter's. Ever. He couldn't use her for magical purposes, even if it's to find Baelfire.
Rumplestiltskin heard the footsteps getting closer and looked at her one more time. Regina didn't stop crying, her arms still pending on the air, calling him to fill his rightful place in her life.
No, he couldn't.
With one last look into the girl's eyes, the sorcerer disappeared.