Apples and Oats

Chapter 1

Daniel sighed as he sat by the tree. Regina was late again. While he did not doubt her desire to meet him, he was often frustrated by the shortness and infrequency of their time together. Regina was clearly afraid of her mother's magic, and would not defy her too far. Not that Daniel was in a hurry to incur her wrath either, but he did not see why Cora would be as unreasonable as Regina expected her to be. Sure, he could not give Regina the life she had now, but he would care for her with a determination and tenderness he was sure no one else could. Surely Cora would look past her disappointment when she saw how happy they were together. But Regina would not hear of it. Every time he mentioned it Regina would beg him so desperately that he couldn't help but give in.

The sound of a horse galloping across the fields shook him from is reverie. His face split into a grin as he saw Regina riding up to him with a look that held both anticipation and apology. She stopped at the tree and dismounted, saying,

"Sorry I'm late. But a lady does not rush away from her tea."

"That's ok, you're here now," he replied

She fell into his arms as they embraced, enjoying the feeling of being alone that they were so often denied.

Suddenly, a high pitched scream filled the air as a horse raced past them. A young girl was desperately clinging to the horse while screaming for help. Daniel immediately leapt onto his horse and raced after her. He could see Regina attempting to do the same, but motioned her to stay. He was sure that his horse was faster, and Regina was not dressed to be running after a runaway horse, not that he would ever tell her that. He managed to catch up to the horse and pull the young girl onto his own before she fell off. Slowing his horse down, he looked down at the child now clinging to him as fiercely as she had clung to the horse.

"You saved my life!" She exclaimed breathlessly.

"It's ok, you're safe now," he told her. "My name is Daniel."

"I'm Snow. Snow White. I was so scared. I'm never getting on a horse again."

"Now, don't say that. The only way to get over your fear is to face it. So you should get back on that horse and ride again. I have faith in you."

"Thank you, Daniel"


AN: This is just a little something to tide me over through the winter hiatus. Hope you enjoyed it. Don't own once upon a time