I hate myself for posting another fic when I have two already that I've not finished but this idea came up in a group chat and I had to write it. I was going to wait to post it but I'm actually really pleased with this so here you go, hope you all enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

When Regina saved the young girl on the run away horse that day she did not believe that she would end up here. Her mother accepting a marriage proposal on her behalf because of the man being rich.

It turns out that the young girl was Snow White whose family was known in their area for being well off. The girl's mother died a while ago under some suspicious circumstances but due to the family's reputation it was all brushed under the rug. Leopold was Snow's father and also now apparently Regina's soon to be husband.

An unsettling feeling of dread settled over Regina as she stood slightly open mouthed next to her mother looking from her to Leopold. She did not want this.

Preparations for the wedding began instantly and Regina was allowed very little input into it at all. Leopold wanted the wedding to happen quickly, so it was to be within the month.

Anxiety and dread swept through Regina every time she had to think about the prospect of her wedding day. Being forced into marrying a man twice her age who she did not feel anything for was not the wedding she had dreamt of as a little girl.

It was at its worst at night her stomach would lurch and her chest tighten, the tears she hid during the day fell freely. All she could do was scrunch up her face and hold herself tight waiting for sleep or morning whichever came first.

Her mother was not helping the process in any way. She was speeding things up, rushing it along because of the prospect of having her daughter marry into such a wealthy family. Cora only cared about her own social status and was constantly trying to raise it and anyone who got in her way was damned.

Her father, Henry was no help either for as much as he cared for his daughter he was too much of a pushover to stand up for her. This was how things had always been.

From the moment Regina was born she was a chess piece in her mother's game. She strategically placed Regina in situations for her own gain. If there was no gain for Cora, then it was not worthy of her.

She spent very little of her time with her future husband though she did spend a lot of time with Snow who was a sweet if not spoiled child. It was hard to be around her as the girl was excited for Regina to be her step-mother. Regina did not want to hurt Snow's feelings and so she pretended to be just as excited and that was what she put most of her energy into.

For the rest of her days she donned a blank expression that hid her feelings well though many of Leopold's staff had decided that she was stand offish and rude though she cared little of what they thought.

When the day of the wedding actually arrived Regina had not slept at all and she did not want to leave her bed. She stayed there as long as she could despite the fact that she could hear her mother shouting for her to get up. It was not long before her door was slammed open and her mother barged in.

"Get up this instance!" Cora growled whilst pulling the covers from Regina. "There is a lot to do today and no time for this nonsense."

Regina groaned and sat up wiping at her eyes to try disguise her tears but there was no hiding that she had been crying and her mother caught on quickly.

"You foolish child!" Cora grabbed Regina harshly by the chin forcing her face upwards, "your tears are weakness."

All Regina could do was stare back, she did not have the energy to fight with her mother, she had come to accept her fate. Leading up to the wedding she had tried several times to run away and each time she never got very far because Cora would catch up with her.

For the rest of the morning she did what she was told, allowing her mother to help her get ready with no protest as that would just make things more difficult than they needed to be. There was no stopping the inevitable at this point so what was the point in fighting it, everything as always was out of her control.

Finally, not long before she was to walk down the aisle, she had a moment alone and felt herself relax the tension that had been building inside all morning. It was then that she looked at herself in the full length mirror that was before her. Her dress was beautiful, of course she had seen it during the many fittings but she never had a chance to see it properly and with her hair and make-up done she couldn't help but feel that she looked like a princess.

Although the dress was beautiful it was bought by Leopold and its heavy weight felt like he was already there weighing her down. She had tried not to think of after the wedding but it was getting harder she had to swallow a sob that escaped her throat. She really didn't want this. She didn't even know this man that she was expected to lie with, he had so far spent a limited time as possible with her. Perhaps that was a good sign and she wouldn't have to spend too much time around him.

At that point her mother interrupted by entering the room. It was time. She barely heard the words Cora was speaking, she was trying not to throw up. She felt like she was approaching her execution rather than her wedding.