Chapter One - Please

Two hands weaved her hair through her new crown, skilled fingers never pulling on her silken strands.

She glared at her reflection. In the mirror, a beautiful young woman, attended by five women, was getting dressed for her wedding day. The morning will find her head crowned queen; the afternoon, claiming her right as mistress of this castle.

And then the evening…

Please…

Clenching her jaw, enraged by the sight of tears pooling in her eyes, Regina despaired for her future. Having her destiny ripped from her by a selfish child. Snow White wanted a step-mother, and by the gods she was going to get one.

A mother…

Regina released her jaw to swallow bile and more tears. She couldn't do this. No way could she do this. Queen? No. No no no. Never. How could anyone in her position be expected to stand there and promise eternal devotion to a man she did not love - or know? And promise to keep that girl happy and loved for the rest of her life? To stare into those wide, pathetic, green eyes and not slap them out of her precious skull.

She waved away the handmaidens and rested her hand on her stomach. Pacing, trying to move comfortably in her wedding dress, she glanced once more at the vanity mirror.

The reflection continued to disgust her. The sunrise casted the room a soft, rosy glow, flaunting her pale skin and ruby lips. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, almost… twinkling.

Regina threw her hair brush at the gilded bride, breaking the mirror.

Please.

The handmaidens quickly rushed back to her side. She jerked away from their attempts to inspect her.

"Your fussing is unnecessary and unwanted," she snapped. "I am perfectly alright. Merely wedding jitters."

The women recoiled for a moment before hesitantly returning to their task. Regina waved them away once more, this time demanding to be left alone.

She maintained the facade of haughty royalty until the last servant left the room and closed the door.

Alone at last, she wept.

Please.

"Does your beloved fiance' know, dearie?"

Regina sobbed, choking on her surprise. A man… More possibly, a demon, crouched on her balcony. Frantic, she snatched a shard from the mirror and held it before herself, like a dagger.

"What do you want?" she snarled, the illusion of bravery shattered by her sniffling and trembling chin.

"Oh, you poor child." The demon leaped from her balcony to her vanity, gleefully observing the broken glass. "If I really wanted to hurt you, it would take more than that to stop me."

Clearing her throat, Regina regained her composure, but still held on to her weapon. "Then what do you want?"

Her intruder tutted, pointing a scaly finger at her. He meandered around her, and she spun to keep facing him. Watching him take a turn about the room, she slowly stepped back, hoping to reach her bell-pull before he could attack. Her eyes stayed on him, ready to bolt, should he catch her movements.

"Fair is fair, dearie. I'll answer you if you answer me first."

Her fingers found the cord. "What is your question?"

"Does your fiance' know?"

"Know what?" She gripped tightly.

"That you are with child?"

She pulled. And the cord snapped off, preventing any summons for help. The demon laughed and spun towards her, clapping his hands like a manic child.

"False hope is hysterical, isn't it?" You should be wary of mirrors, dearie." He waved a claw at the small wall mirror just past his shoulder - that he previously faced. It offered a clear view of her standing by the chamber door, eyes wide from fear and surprise.

"Reflection is a strong and simple tool. Do well to remember that."

Knowing she could not force him to leave, Regina sat at her vanity, allowing the shard and bell-pull cord to fall from her hands. Strongly tempted to return to her weeping, Regina bowed her head and wished to be left alone.

And then she remembered his question.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Mirrors. They're the shiny things you hang on the wall."

"Stop it!" Despair forgotten, all her focus centered on the demon. "Your question! What did you mean by it?"

The demon tittered. "Curiosity, dearie. To learn how to help you."

A scoff. "Help me?"

"Yes." He crawled on to her bed, delighted in how it bounced. "Someone says 'please' enough times, they're going to receive help eventually."

Please…

Regina blinked a few times, and returned her hands to her stomach, seeking solace through the life within her.

"So I ask once more: Does His Majesty know you are with someone else's child?"

The despair creeped back into her heart. This creature knew her secret, she no longer needed to keep the pain at bay - but when she spoke, no more tears feel. The words poured from her, cold and brittle. Eyes downcast, she finally told someone the truth.

"No one knows. No one can ever know. And I'm frightened. The King would never accept my baby. I don't know what to do - I can't be queen - I hate the princess - my life is over because of her - but I'm supposed to be her mother…"

Her words started running together, and stopped making sense.

With a grin and a flourish in his arm, the demon produced a tea biscuit.

"An expectant mother should keep up her strength."

Baffled, Regina accepted the treat. "Why do you want to help me?"

He shrugged. "My magic recognizes a desperate soul. And I'm willing to help people find their happy endings."

Nibbling on the biscuit, Regina contemplated on her options. Accept his offer, or tell him off, and face her bleak future?

"Would you take me away from here? Take me somewhere far, far away? And guarantee no one will come after my child? Or myself?

"I want happiness. Solitude. Just me, the babe, and an open field to ride to my heart's content."

He bowed. "You have my word.

"For a price."

Of course. Regina had learned no one was capable of charity without ulterior motive.

"I have nothing to give you."

A hand waved off her protest. "I need nothing of material, dearie. I want to make a deal."

"What deal?" Desperation brought her to the verge of shouting.

"If you can correctly answer one question by three days end, I will give you everything you asked. You will have a small, self-sustaining estate. No one will know who you are, and your enemies will never know where you are.

"But… if you fail, I will take your child, and give it to a dear couple in need of a bairn. It will be happy, healthy, and well-loved; and you will never see the child again."

Regina held her eyes tightly shut. The bile returning, she shook her head.

"Do we have a deal, dearie?"

She spoke, her mind clouded with fear and possibilities.

"Deal. What is your question?"

The demon giggled. And then approached her, a small jig in every step. He leaned forward, and whispered in her ear.

"What is my name?"