A short collection of Regina/Daniel or Stable Queen moments. This chapter was inspired by a tumblr prompt from the fabulous ab-original-princess. Thank you very much and I hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time.


Chapter I: A Ride Through the Rain

She gallops through the rain, brown tendrils of hair flying out behind her. She is almost there, almost at the safety and warmth of the stables.

She is riding bareback again. Her mother tells her that she must ride side-saddle for that's what the other ladies do. Regina, however, doesn't want to be a lady. She wants to be free.

Regina reaches the barn doors and walks her horse inside. She looks up from petting her steed and is very surprised to see a man standing right in the centre of the stable. It takes her a moment to register that her father is in the stable too, shaking the man's hand. She looks from her father to the new man and suddenly everything clicks. He must be the stable boy her mother insisted on getting.

Henry steps forward and takes his daughter by the arm. 'Regina, this is Daniel. He's the man we've hired to help you with your riding,' he says. Regina is about to respond with how she doesn't need help with her riding, thank you very much, but the stable boy steps forward and takes her hand. 'It's a pleasure to meet you.' As he speaks he presses his lips to her hand and rises.

Henry looks over the two of them and nods. 'Daniel will help you clean up your horse tonight and your lessons will begin tomorrow morning. Goodnight, my dear.' With those words Henry exits the stable and begins his walk through the rain up to the house.

Regina watches him go and when she is satisfied that he's put of sight she turns to the stable boy who is already brushing down her horse for her. 'I can do that,' she offers.

'I was informed by Lady Cora that I was to clean your horse for you,' he says, combing the horse with firm strokes.
'Thankfully Lady Cora isn't here.' She puts a stress on her mother's title; it's as if it bothers her. As an afterthought she adds 'Please don't tell anyone I said that. Besides, I've brushed him down hundreds of times before.' She reaches for the brush and her hand touches his as she does so. She takes it from him and rests it on the horses back. 'I still want to help, Miss Mills,' he insists. He places his hand over hers and guides her as she brushes the horse down. Her hand is cold and Daniel notices her slight shivering.

'You must be freezing!'
'Well I've been riding in the woods through the rain! Also, please call me Regina. I don't like "Miss Mills"'.

Daniel stops her hand, leads her to where his coat hangs on a hook and wraps it around her shoulders. The woolen material is soft and incredibly comfortable, Regina gratefully accepts the extra warmth. It smells of hay, her favourite smell in the whole world. She takes breathes deeply as she takes in the smell. 'Thank you, Daniel.'

Regina allows him to put her horse away. She notes how perfectly he scattered the hay and how the horse seems to feel perfectly safe with him despite it being the first time they've met.

She then has another revelation. She feels the same as her horse when it comes to Daniel. He makes her feel safe. Some will say that her feelings are all very sudden but she hasn't felt truly safe in a long time.

Daniel finishes with her steed and is heading towards the stable door when Regina rises and stops him in his tracks. 'Wait! Where are you staying tonight? Did my father give you a room here?'

Daniel points out the door at a small brick house not too far from the stable. 'Your parents were very gracious and allowed me to stay there. It'll suit me fine, besides I'll spend more time in the stables than anywhere else.' He rubs his gloved hands together and tries hard to hide his chattering teeth.

Regina nods in understanding, she would live in the stables too if she could. 'I still have your coat!' She moves to take it off but Daniel presses it gently back on her shoulders. 'Keep it. Your parents would kill me if you got a cold out here,' he says. She accepts his coat, secretly grateful that she won't have to walk through the pouring rain.

'Goodnight, Regina. I'll be waiting for you in the morning, right here. Be up bright and early, it's your first lesson!' He smiles at her before taking off into the night, running to his little brick house.

A good twenty minutes pass until Regina is tucked away in her bed. It's placed neatly under the windowsill so she can look out and view the stars, but tonight she is looking at something else: a little brick house with a light glowing in its front window. Her mind wanders to the man who now resides in that house and she can't help but smile; a real smile that reaches her eyes. These are rare for her now but she pushes her worries and cares aside. She imagines his ruffled hair and his blue eyes. The smell of hay from his coat still lingers on her skin.

'Goodnight, Daniel.' She whispers.

With thoughts of the kind stable boy dancing through her mind she lets her eyelids droop and one thought lingers as she drifts off to sleep.

She is so very excited for her riding lesson with Daniel tomorrow.


So this little collection is just going to be Stable Queen ideas that pop into my head. At this stage they will be a collection of one-shots or two-shots. Part II of this one will be up soon.

Drop a review and tell me your thoughts? I'd really appreciate some feedback from y'all.

Love, Blue :)