One week. They’d agreed, she’d agreed. One week in Storybrooke and they would see how things went. And yet, once they’d left the forest it wasn’t exactly all she had hoped for. Lily wanted time, space, a place to sleep, and while Maleficent was still new to this world herself she’d offered what she could; Gold’s cabin was as good as hers now with Ursula and Cruella gone.
"I know you’re my mother, but I can take care of myself.“
It was hard not to cry, again, she’d been waiting so long for this, and now she just had to wait a little longer. Answering with a nod she agreed to meet for breakfast in the diner, and see where the day took them from there. Despite that promise somehow it felt like she was losing her all over again, offering a pathetic wave as she watched Lily make her way through the diner door. She almost couldn’t bear it. And the thought of how many hours now laid between seeing her again made it feel even more impossible. She had so many questions, there was so much to learn and time was well, ticking. But there was nothing she could do about it now. It would be worse to smother the girl and have her running for the townline even faster.
Sniffling slightly as she turned down Storybrooke’s main road, she made it about four sturdy steps before a soft sob escaped. Her hand was drawn up to her lips to quiet it, the other pressing against her abdomen as she felt almost sick with emotion. This wasn’t like her, but then she’d never had the chance to know what she might be like as a mother. There was an emptiness that ached inside her, seeing her daughter but not knowing her at all. And now she couldn’t even do the former. Fourteen hours laid between her now and when she would see her again, and it just felt so much longer.
Before anyone could have the chance to witness her display she blinked as far as her magic could take her. Unfortunately that method of travel was not as efficient as she would have wished it, and she wound up only a block down the street. Pulling her coat tight around herself she resigned to walk the rest of the way, as she had not the energy or focus to get there otherwise. Once the white house had come into view she gave one more push, appearing on the front porch, her finger already on the doorbell.