New story! It is truly a blank slate lol so if you have any requests or ideas PLEASE tell me! This whole first half of the story is pretty much a free for all just because I like working with your ideas and I am bummed when I can't always fit them in.

So tell me what you want! :) it's gonna be fun!

Neverland. She hated it. It was dark. And she didn't mean the twisted and evil sort of dark, she meant the fact that they never saw the damn sun. It was always dark. She didn't know what day it was, what time it was, how long they had actually been there for, she hadn't a clue and no one else did either. It had driven them all absolutely mad. They were almost done there though, she could feel it. They were close. She hoped.

Her attention snapped to David once again when he tripped and her irritable expression of thought only turned more bitter as a result of his interruption. As if her gaze didn't linger on him enough already. She hated how often she found herself pining after him. Ever since lasagna at her house. It had only gotten worse with his constant presence after the curse broke. It hadn't stopped until Snow and Emma has returned from their unscheduled trip to the Enchanted Forest through Jefferson's hat.

However, even with Snow having been returned for some time now, Regina still caught him studying her instead. Not as often as she herself found her gaze lingering on him, but often enough for her to notice.

Even here in Neverland she had caught him. Snow was still entirely oblivious to the fact Regina had slept with her darling Prince. Regina imagined she was also oblivious to the kisses they shared while she was in the Enchanted Forest with Emma. Regina never spoke a word about it and she refused to acknowledge her reasons for keeping David so close to her broken heart. It was unhealthy, sure, indulging so deeply in that kind man's offered affections and support when she was so hurt and vulnerable. Not that he was in any different a state when Snow jumped in the hat.

So their gazes lingered on one another from time to time, both of them befuddled as to why it kept drifting like a compass pointing north and both hating that they held lingering feelings toward one another. It would pass, she was sure. Or it would build until it blew up at the most inopportune moment.

That wasn't on her mind though when she scowled at him for tripping too close to her and drawing her from her thoughts on Henry and how to get him home. Inconsiderate oaf. But then she noticed how pale he was and her scowl softened to a frown as she stood up and he shook his head in denial and warning to back off. They had been bickering throughout the majority of this trip, harsh and vicious and truly unnecessary. They were acting like children, she was aware. But none of that mattered when his balance swayed in his attempt to step away from her.

"David?" Snow asked in concern as she carefully walked toward him while Regina marched up to him as though she was going to tear him apart in a sudden fit of rage.

"That wasn't a branch, was it," Regina snarled furiously as the pieces fell together in her mind and he had the audacity to laugh. She hated how she went cold with dread at the sound. It was a tired laugh, a faded laugh, and he swayed again before she pushed his back to a tree to steady him as she tugged open his jacket so she could get to his shirt.

Thrown off by the sight of Regina pinning her husband to a tree and pulling at his clothes, Snow frowned and turned her head in confusion as her voice dipped with her chin, "what the hell are you doing."

"I'll be fine, Regina," he breathed with a pained smile and felt his body start to sway and collapse as her warm hands stopped on his stomach and side after shoving his cotton shirt up and out of the way, "maybe."

"Shit," she hissed though her teeth as her heart sunk lower in dread and raced in panic, "you're a damn fool!"

"David!" Snow gasped as her hands flew to cover her mouth.

Purple poison webbed his entire torso and it all started from the cut on his side. Ordinarily it wouldn't be anywhere near a life threatening injury. It barely broke the skin. But it was enough and the poison had been in his system ever since. Creeping though his veins, killing him slowly, aiming for his heart. "What the fuck, David?!" Regina yelled in his face, furious and terrified. She didn't want to lose him.

"Why didn't you tell us?!" Snow shouted in a panic and then he collapsed and she quickly jumped forward to help Regina get him to the ground gently. "Regina," Snow cried softly but Regina didn't answer and continued to mutter insults under her breath as she waved his shirt and jacket away and promptly put her glowing hands over his heart as the other members of their group quickly gathered to see what was going on. "Regina!" Snow cried and the woman snapped her head to her with an expression that was more panicked and scared than Snow expected it to be.

"What?!" She shouted back as she tried to work the poison away from his heart. She had never worked with dreamshade before.

"Save him," she breathed shakily as her hands squeezed his forearm and Regina looked back and forth between her wide eyes.

David

David walked down the dirt road with aimless but even strides but as he continued, it dawned on him that he didn't know why he was there or how he had gotten there or even where 'there' was for that matter. He tried to remember where he was last but couldn't quite grasp the memory. He knew it had been dark and he knew he had been in pain...he could feel a warmth in his side and in his chest. It was odd and tingling but when he touched the area it was no warmer than the rest of him.

His mind felt cloudy and his ears were ringing but slowly the ringing faded and was replaced with the sounds of a forest. He still didn't know where he was but he figured he may as well continue walking.

So he followed the road toward the sound of people talking and laughing. It took him a few minutes to get there and when he rounded the corner he found himself at a small inn with what looked to be a small bakery attached only it wasn't from the modern world of Storybrooke. No it was quite clear that he was nowhere near Storybrooke. Or Neverland for that matter. He was in the Enchanted Forest.

Oh. Neverland...he had been in Neverland.

He hesitated for a few moments before he continued forward, mostly just because he was caught up in learning where he had been before his apparent arrival there. He nearly made it to the counter of the bakery before he was cut off by a brunette woman. So he took the delay to look around but it only lasted a moment or two before his attention was immediately caught by the familiar voice of the woman. It was very different but it was her voice all the same.

"I need my usual order please, Molly," she grinned and leaned forward, bending at the waist a little so she was almost inside the little bakery.

Molly rolled her eyes and smiled and the young woman started laughing through her teeth, "you are going to get caught one of these days."

"She hasn't caught me yet," she grinned and Molly shook her head with a laugh under her breath as she turned around and began looking through the shelves of bread and pastries.

"Knock on wood, my dear," she laughed and then heard two slow knocks on the wooden counter and turned to find the woman laughing through her wide grin once more as she slid off the counter and stood tall as she turned away.

David stared at her in confusion and frustration and when she turned, she turned in his direction and stopped suddenly, startled that he was there but then smiled up at him.

"Hello," she greeted with a smile but he simply cocked his head slowly and squinted his eyes which had her laughing under her breath, "what? Do you not speak English?"

"Who are you?" He asked slowly in his confusion.

She shook her head as she laughed quietly and offered him her hand, "my name is Regina," she smiled and when he didn't shake her hand and kept his confused and stern gaze on her, she glanced down at her hand and then back up to him as she let it fall back to her side, "and you are?"

"...David."

"It's nice to meet you, David," she nodded but still his expression was only confusion and frustration, "what's your deal?" She nodded up at him with a mischievous smirk.

"...I am pretty sure...that I am dreaming..."

"Well I'm flattered but despite my beauty I can assure you I am very real," she smirked and bit back a laugh at his entirely unimpressed stare back at her.

"Cocky as ever, aren't you," he deadpanned and she narrowed her eyes a little but her smirk stayed in place.

"Regina!"

She turned to the sound of children calling her name and immediately smiled at the trio of siblings running toward her and she practically skipped over to meet them halfway with a smile.

David pivoted to watch her go and his confusion only heightened when the sister and two brothers began chatting up a storm with Regina and their parents greeted her kindly and she them before they carried on. It didn't make any sense. Regina was bright and happier than he had ever seen her. Her appearance was different too. Her hair was long and left down in dark waves that hit the middle of her back. She wore beige riding pants and shining black riding boots and a white shirt beneath a tailored forest green coat fashioned much like a blazer. She was simple and soft and it was strange.

"You seem lost."

David turned around to look at the woman on the other side of the counter, "just a little," he smiled and she smiled back as she leaned forward to brace her weight on the wooden counter, "I haven't been to this realm in a very long time. Could you give me an update on current events or something?"

Molly breathed out a laugh and nodded as he walked a couple steps and stopped in front of her, "sure. Locally there isn't much happening. You've met Regina. Her father is fifth in line for king Xavier's throne but he is nothing to be concerned about for he is a gentle man. Her mother, Cora, however is a different story. Very powerful, very stern, and very strict. Regina comes here often to escape it. Her father covers for her. I fear for the girl though if her mother were to catch her here and find that she comes for the company rather than merely the bread their hired hands could retrieve for them. She is a wonderful girl, very good heart, and a quick tongue that I am sure has gotten her in to trouble. Aside from her family though it is a quiet little place.

As for our monarchy; there are rumours that the Queen has fallen ill. King Leopold is out on business and no one is certain if he is aware of his wife's condition. The princess is here though. Poor thing. The kingdom is thriving otherwise," she finished with a smile and a shrug and the man in front of her just stared at her shaking his head. But eventually he sighed and dipped his head in thanks.

"Thank you that is very helpful."

"Of course. Anything you need."

With a smile and a tap on the counter between them, David moved to turn away but stopped and started speaking again instead, "actually I do need a place to stay but I'm afraid I haven't got anything to my name at the moment."

"Well I'm afraid I do not have any work for you here," she frowned and then crossed her jaw in thought as she thrummed her fingers and then stopped, "actually Regina will surely help you with your predicament."

David furrowed his brow and turned to look for the brunette he would prefer to steer clear of, "Regina?"

"The darling thing hates to see a person go uncared for. She will figure something out for you. They may even be hiring themselves."

David looked over his shoulder again to where Regina stood talking with the mother of the three children and then looked back to the friendly baker, "is there no one else?"

Molly furrowed her brow with a light laugh, "you've only just met her. What have you got against her?"

"Nothing it's just...no that's alright, I'll go talk to her. Thank you," he nodded with a strained smile before turning and walking toward Regina. Of all the people he had to ask for help from. He waited patiently off to the side until she finished her conversation with the mother of three and as the mother passed him, he nodded politely in greeting. When he focused back on Regina she was already looking at him with a smile, "I find you strange," he stated plainly with a small frown that was verging on a scowl.

Regina's smile grew a little as she breathed out a laugh with her reply, "I find you rather strange as well, David."

"I was talking to Molly and she said you may be able to help me find a place to stay for I haven't anything to my name and would prefer not to make camp in the middle of the forest," he explained reluctantly but slowly her smile and attention were pulled away by something over his shoulder. Before he could look to see or ask her what she was looking at, she gripped the fabric of his shirt over his stomach with one hand gave him a hard tug that sent him crashing in to her and sent her backward so he unintentionally had her pinned against a wooden wagon full of straw.

"Regina!" He growled and tried to push away from her but she pulled him back so he stayed flush against her.

"Sshhh," she hushed and kept a firm hold on his shirt to keep him from moving away from her.

"Regina-!"

"Shut up!"

It was then that she saw the fear in her expression. Right when her eyes met his. It took a moment for him to recognize it for he had never really seen her scared before but her soft mouth and dark eyes clearly expressed her need for him to stay put. So he took a deep breath and adjusted his feet so he was more balanced, placed his hands on either side of her waist, and dropped his head just a little lower so that to their surrounding audience the pair of them looked to be no more than a man kissing a woman. He didn't appreciate it but she unmistakably did.

Her grip around his shirt loosened until her fingertips rested lightly against his stomach and her other hand was placed flat against his chest as she let out a long soft breath. Then he frowned as he felt his body's will to relax in to her and truly pin her down. He had done it before. The Regina he knew fit so nicely against him. It was something he shouldn't know but did. He craved that woman. Try as he might to deny it, he craved her. But this was different. This was confusing and irritating and he focused on that because this was not the Regina he knew. This wasn't even a time period he knew.

At the sound of a carriage passing by he felt her grow tense beneath him and she held her breath. He furrowed his brow at the reaction but kept still and listened to the carriage drive away and soon enough there was no sound of it. She stayed tense and he stayed put until she was going to let him go. A few long moments passed until there was a chime of a bell and Regina relaxed instantly and dropped her head to rest her forehead against his as she breathed out a relieved laugh and lifted her hands to hang off his neck.

"Thank you," she smiled and despite her eyes being closed she knew he was still frowning. Why, she didn't know.

"You're welcome," he offered simply and she hummed a single laugh and moved a thumb over the corner of his jaw before she let go of him and slipped out from between him and the wagon. He didn't like how he missed her touch or her closeness.

"You are cutting it much too close!" Molly called out to her with an amused shake of her head.

"She wasn't supposed to return home until this evening!" Regina reasoned, still shaken up with the adrenaline rush that came with her nervousness, "it won't be long now until she comes to fetch me. Is the bread nearly ready?"

"Almost."

Regina nodded with a smile and then turned back to look at David, "thank you again for that," she smiled and found herself sizing him up, her eyes lingering appreciatively over his face and body. He was handsome and strong and she cocked her head suddenly with a grin that almost showed her teeth.

David furrowed his brow at her, entirely displeased by the way she was looking at him. Pleasure and appreciation in regard to his appearance causing her dark eyes to light up, "how old are you?"

"I am by no means a child if that's what you're asking," she smirked as she gave him another once over and his unimpressed scowl fell deeper while her smirk grew to a grin that was all teeth. Then she laughed quietly in her throat and answered his inquiry, "there isn't much for work anywhere close that I am aware of that will offer a place to stay. Nor is there anywhere close that will offer a room for work in exchange. However if you are good with horses we have a place open for a stable hand. Sleeping quarters are above the stables and you will be provided with three meals a day and on top of it all you will also be paid."

David shook his head once and furrowed his brow deeper, "what's the catch?"

"No catch," she chuckled lightly, "it is a job offer. If you are terrible then you will be let go. Simple as that."

"Regina," the baker called.

With one last smile in David's direction, Regina turned and walked back up to Molly who held out a basket filled with various breads and rolls all covered by a white cloth. "Thank you," she smiled and dropped a bag of coins on the counter as she took the basket.

"Regina," she drew out her name in a scolding tone and picked up the small bag, "this is far too much."

"There is far more bread in here than I ordered," she countered with a smile over her shoulder. Molly simply shook her head with a grateful smile as she nodded in return and carefully placed the money in her apron pocket. When Regina turned her head back straight she gasped and jumped back a little at the stern woman looking back at her, "you startled me."

"What are you doing?"

"I was picking up bread," she stated simply and lifted the basket a little.

"What on earth possessed you to come and get it yourself?"

"It is a nice day and everyone else was busy. I had a little extra time on my hands so rather than spending that time riding, I took a walk down here," she explained knowing full well that her mother hated that she spent every free second of her time on her mare's back and therefore she would get off the hook for coming down here instead. No questions asked.

Cora sighed out her nose and gave a subtle shake of her head, "hopeless," she breathed in disapproval and reached forward to lift her daughter's chin and Regina obeyed without a word. With another shake of her head she moved to step away but Regina's voice stopped her.

"This man came to me in search of work," she pivoted only enough for her mother to see him behind him, "I mentioned we have an opening as a stable hand. He seems well enough."

Cora looked the man up and down and stepped up to him. He did not cower in her presence but he was cautious and respectful. It was obvious to her that he new precisely who she was and what she was capable of and she liked that. "You will do for now," she agreed with disinterest as she looked him over again, "your pay will start after a week. I will know by then if I want to keep you."

"Fair," David nodded and the instant she turned her back to him he flicked his eyes to Regina who kept a straight face when she was in her mother's line of sight. The very moment Cora passed her though, Regina's mouth pulled in to a smug grin and she gave a small rock of her head before she turned around and likely schooled her expression back down to indifference.

"Shall I walk and show him the way, mother?"

"Well I am certainly not taking him home," she laughed irritably as she turned around and took the basket of bread from her daughter, "you found him. Now go put him in his place."

Regina nodded once in agreement, her expression submissive and calm as she gently clasped her hands in front of her and let them hang down. It was odd to see her without anger. Not even a hint of it. When Cora vanished in a cloud of purple smoke he didn't even blink and simply watched curiously as Regina rocked on her toes and leaned forward to look down the road. Once she was satisfied she turned to him with a smile and beckoned him forward with her fingers.

As he started walking toward her she looked past him to Molly, "goodbye! I'm sure I'll see you again soon!" The baker only replied with a shake of her head and a wave of her hand as she laughed to herself.

David fell in step beside her but kept a good distance between them while he found himself shaking his head at her, "you are not what I thought."

"Oh? And what did you think?"

"I was thinking more along the lines of your mother actually."

She gave a single humourless laugh with a shake of her head, "I am nothing like my mother," she only heard a short hum in response but she let it go. She didn't want to start arguing with the person she knew she'd be seeing a lot of, "so where are you from?"

"That's a complicated question to answer."

Regina squinted her eyes as her brow creased with confused laughter, "alright where were you before you arrived here today?"

"...A place called Neverland."