A/N: This is under the works. Sometimes I just have to publish things to either share them with some friends or to push myself to keep going. Also, this is very much AU. Many things are far from canon for the sole purpose of making the Evil Charming ship make sense to me.

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Once Upon a Time. I am a fan displaying my love of this ship in story form. Also, this story may contain some anti-Snow themes. I am not anti-Snow. I just found it easier to bring Charming and Regina together over this idea.

I don't even know you. That's all he kept hearing echoing through his mind. It was the ongoing reminder that she had erased him from her mind. His true love, his Snow White, the one he'd always find, didn't even know who he was anymore.

Even so, he stormed along through the Enchanted Forest with a trusty bow and some arrows. It seemed to be the only thing he could trust anymore, and it frustrated him. So, he raised his bow and readied an arrow as he began taking shots out into the abyss of the Enchanted Forest. He didn't care what he hit, if anything. However, as he let go of his last arrow, he heard the whinny of a startled horse off in the distance. Filled with remorse, he bolted out to see where the cry came from.

He poked his head out from a tree at the edge of the forest and he knew exactly what he had done. Immediately, he hid behind the tree, heart racing as he flattened his back to align with the tree. This was the last person he wanted to run into, the last person he wanted to bother. He had heard stories. So, he just had to keep hidden and wait it out.

However, curiosity got the better of him and he peeked out from behind the tree to see a horrifyingly beautiful woman heaving herself and her unnecessarily tight, black, trailing, dress out of the assailed carriage.

"Just what seems to be the problem?" she barked, shooting the driver a warning look.

"An arrow grazed one of our horses, Your Majesty," the driver informed, voice hoarse as he avoided eye contact with the Queen.

"And, is the horse injured?" Her condescending tone of voice matching the tilt of her head and pursing of her lips.

"No. But very much startled."

"I don't understand what the issue is."

The man shook nervously; hobbling out of the driver seat as he hesitantly went to retrieve the arrow, now protruding from a nearby tree trunk. His age was getting to him now as his tired eyes focused on the arrow and he ran his stout hand through his greying hair. He was probably too old to be the driver to the Queen, but as many knew, she wasn't a kind woman or a kind queen. She was the Evil Queen. So, as he yanked the arrow from the tree, his eyes widened as his calloused hands traced the smooth cedar wood of the arrow.

This wasn't just any kind of arrow. This was the arrow of a royal, not in any relation to the Queen, but definitely the piece of someone who had power. Perhaps, it belonged to a king in a nearby land. A spy? War? He had to warn the Queen.

"Your Majesty?" The man quivered, bringing her the arrow. "You have to see this."

With a roll of the eyes and a slight scoff, she took the arrow from the driver and her eyes went wild with fury. "Is this some sort of sick joke?" she spat, waving it in the air as she scanned the edge of the forest.

Panic set in. It was too late for Charming to hide. He had spent too much time, watching them and he had forgotten to hide once more. So, he took a hesitant step toward the elegant woman, having to remind himself that he too was royalty. He was Prince Charming after all, so it was time to turn on the charm.

"Your Majesty. How nice to finally meet you in person," he greeted flatly, eyes narrowing but never leaving her as he continued to saunter toward her.

"Ah. Prince Charming. How cute. How could I ever thank you, my dear, for making this so easy?" she hissed, snapping her fingers as a cohort of guards on horse galloped out from behind trees in the forest and quickly tied him up.

They separated him from his bow and arrow and gave him a good blow to the head with their guard sticks And, as they held him up, an almost unconscious man, they waited for the Queen's next command.

"What do you want with me?" he spat, using what little energy he had left to try to break loose.

"Throw him in the dungeon!" she ordered, gesturing for them to mount their horses once more as she headed back toward her carriage. "Make sure he stays alive. I want him talking."

"You're wasting your time," he snarled, attempting to struggle once more as a guard gave him another blow to the head, rendering him unconscious as the guard dragged him up on the horse, ready to take off.

And, as they all took off toward her castle, they kept their pace brisk so that his time to escape was lessened. Regina needed to know what he knew. She had heard stories of him traveling with her beloved stepdaughter. So, she saw him as her key to finding Snow White's whereabouts. She knew it wouldn't be easy given that he had just shot an arrow at them, but considering the huntsman had failed her, she was going to all lengths she could. She just, more than anything, did not want to have to turn to the Dark One. He had done enough. And, she could almost hear what he'd have to say if she ever came to him. I told you so, dearie.

So, as they arrived at her castle, she slowly hoisted herself out of her carriage, bracing herself for the intense interrogation she would have to perform. And, oddly enough, in this moment, she found herself needing to calm herself. Her memories of Daniel were too strong. Her heart raced. And, as she looked back at the horse carrying a guard and the tied up Prince Charming, she thought of Daniel. She could see his warm chocolate eyes coming to greet her as they were soon replaced by the, now conscious, Prince's narrowed eyes. That was it! The spark of Daniel that lived in her memories was enough to keep her pushing forward once more. She just needed to get as much information out of this foolish Prince and get rid of Snow White once and for all. We got her Daniel. She plastered a cruel smirk to her face as she locked eyes with the Prince.

However as Charming glared back at the Queen, he didn't fail to see the troubled look in her eyes before returning to her cruel self. It intrigued him and he couldn't look away. Yes, he had heard Snow's version of this story, but as a man who had to take his twin's place and redeem the throne, he knew all too well that there were two sides to every story. And, if he was going to get interrogated, why couldn't he perform a little interrogation of his own?