This is a fanfiction I started a few years ago but never finished. Then a few years later I found it on my computer and decided to continue it. I hope you enjoy reading it – TwoHeartsBecomeOne.

True love is magic, the most powerful magic of all.

Regina sat on the seat by her bedroom window, starring outside. She didn't bother to go outside much anymore. What was the point when the whole town seemed to hate her? She'd tried to change. Smile when she walked past people in the street, maybe even ask them how their day was going, but she never got a reply. No one ever returned a smile. It was like she was invisible. A ghost. She wondered if anyone even knew the pain she was in, that she had been in for the past few years. They all thought she had it all. Money, power. But really, she had nothing. Not without Daniel. She cried every day, would wake up screaming at night from the vicious nightmare that never seemed to go away. There she'd be, in the stable again. Cora would cast a spell, chocking Daniel as he coughed and tried to breathe. Then she would rip out his heart. It always happened so quickly. Daniel would drop dead, his life taken right before her very eyes. Regina would immediately run to him, fall to the floor and scream in pain. "Noooo," as she cradled him in her arms. "Mother why have you done this?" She'd cry. "Because this is your happy ending." Then she'd wake up, gasping for air, her body covered in sweat. Each time she awoke it felt like it had only just happened. Like it was happening for the very first time. "Because this is your happy ending." Was it? Regina remembered reading stories when she was a little girl. The fairy tales she'd read always ended happily. So was this supposed to be her HAPPY ending? To live alone in misery? It didn't seem right. It didn't make any sense. Daniel was supposed to of been her happy ending. They were going to get married and run away together. They had had it all planned out. They would move far away somewhere to a cottage in the country where no one would ever find them. Daniel would find work and one day they would have children. Watch them grow up and then grow old together. "Foolish child!" she could imagine her mother saying. "I can't believe you thought you actually had a chance at true love."

Regina closed her eyes and cast her mind back to the time when she and Daniel had held one another in each other's arms for the very last time. She wished more than anything to feel him in her arms again once more. Regina squeezed her eyes shut tighter and let tears run down her bright pink cheeks, clutching onto the cushion she was holding for dear life. "I need you Daniel," she cried. "I love you!" Her voice turned to a whisper. In her mind her and Daniel were sharing their first ever kiss. It was unexpected and magical. He had been the first man to kiss her and she was glade. Regina imagined his lips crushing against hers, kissing him back with the same level of passion. Her head was spinning and her mind was a blur. Her heart rate picked up speed and even now when she pictured it her heart would still race the way it use to. Sometimes Regina wished she didn't have to open her eyes, come back to reality, back to this hell she was living in.

Suddenly, Regina heard a knock at the door. She jumped, realising that it was her call to come back to real life. Quickly, wiping away her tears she stood up, She could never let anyone see her crying. Never lose her reputation as being the strong evil one with all the power. She had considering letting people see the real her, who she truly knew she was inside, but she just couldn't do it. She just couldn't bare people seeing her as being weak. Yes, she had power, she was strong, but inside, her heart was broken and she felt like she didn't have any power at all. She stood up, smoothing out the creases on her black skirt. She had to look presentable. After all, she was the Mayor.

"Miss Swan, now what might you want?"

"Can I come in?" Emma asked, ignoring the question.

"Well I am rather busy so do please make it quick!" Regina wanted to say, as she opened the door wider. But she didn't.

"Of course!" she said instead, in the sweetest voice she could muster, gritting her teeth. She didn't really want to let her in at all, but she had to be nice, she had to act like she was pleased to see her.

"Would you like a drink?" Regina casually asked, as she followed her into the sitting room.

"No, thanks!" Emma replied bluntly, as she sat down on the black velvet sofa. I won't be here long."

"God forbid." Regina thought, rolling her eyes.

"I need to know if you're coming to the dance."

"Excuse me."

"The dance that's going to be held in Storybrook's town hall in a few weeks' time. It will be a bit like a ball. Until we find a way back home we thought we would try and re - capture some of the magic that land had. I hadn't had a reply from you as to whether or not you were coming so…" Emma's voice trailed off.

"Well, I never knew about it. Nor did I approve it. I'm the Mayor of this town, or have you forgotten that Miss Swan? I approve of any events that go on before they happen."

"Well you might have known about it," Emma cried. "You might know more about what's going on in your town if you ventured outside more instead of staying hidden behind the walls of your big mansion." What are you so afraid of? You have so much power and the whole town fears you..."

"Yes, but I'm trying to change. I am!" Regina protested. "But whenever I go outside everyone just ignores me and walks away. I can't do this alone. Not that you or anyone else would even care or even bother to help me." She glared at Emma.

"Well maybe if you made more of an effort."

"I'm trying!" Regina screeched. "But you don't see that do you? You'll always see me as evil. The evil Queen who's never going to change."

There was a moments silence where no one said a thing.

"Please Regina." Emma turned to face her. A desperate expression crossed her face. "It's already been planned. It will be fun. It would be a good opportunity to come outside and meet some people. It would be a chance to try and convince the people of Storybook that you're trying to change. That you do have good inside of you. That they have no real need to fear you. "

"I wouldn't have a date," Regina replied flatly getting up and walking over to the window.

"I could find you one. I'm sure with a bit of persuasion someone would go with you."

"I can't!" Her voice was sharp just like Emma's had been when Regina had offered her a drink. She stared out the window at the rain that had started to pour down. "And I don't approve. You will have to bring the people of Storybrooke disappointment as they will not be having their ball."

Regina cast her mind back. She had been to so many balls before but nothing had compared to the ball she had gone to with Daniel. It had been the most magical night of her life. For that one night she wasn't Regina Mills, the daughter of Cora who would one day be Queen. For that one night she was just another normal human being. A peasant just like Daniel, like nearly everyone else in the town was. She could have gotten into the ball easily just by saying who she was. But for one night she didn't want to have to dance with some royal stranger who claimed to be sixth in line to the throne. She just wanted to be free. She had brought a ginger wig from the market in the town square the day before they were planning to crash the ball. She looked completely different. And was sure no one would recognise her. They were going to sneak in pretending to a Duchess and a Prince. She was sure no one would understand why she was going to do this. Not that she could ever tell anyone. She was planning on pretending she was sick. Her mother was going to be out that night anyway, so she'd never know. As long as she got back before she did anyway.

She remembered the night so clearly. No ball since then had ever been the same. Daniel had picked her up outside the back of the castle at her bedroom window (sometimes he would show up at her window in the evening when her mother was out or late at night when her mother, had gone to bed) throwing pebbles at her window. He had nearly been caught once. Cora had heard a noise and got up to investigate.

"Regina darling? Are you still awake?" Her mother entered her room.

Regina turned around, startled by her mother's sudden entrance. She hadn't even heard her coming up the hall.

"Mother. What are you doing up? I… I thought you were asleep."

"I was, then I heard a noise. Have you heard a noise?" Her voice was quick and sharp.

"No mother," Regina quickly replied.

Cora's eyes darted to her daughter's window.

"Why is your window open?" Her voice turned suspicious and her eyes narrowed.

Regina panicked as her mother marched over to the window, staring outside.

"I… I felt a bit faint. Needed some fresh air. Look at the sky tonight. Isn't it beautiful?"

Cora didn't bother to look up, taking a quick glance around the grounds.

"I'm going back to bed. Please try to get some sleep dear."

"Yes mother," Regina replied, faking a smile.

"This is amazing," Daniel exclaimed, as they entered the ball room of the palace. Everywhere people were dressed to the nines, dancing and laughing whilst sipping champagne and eating the banquet of food that was laid out on the longest table Daniel had ever seen.

Regina laughed. She was dressed in a pale green ball gown with bright gold slippers and white gloves, and Daniel was dressed in a white shirt and a bright red jacket with black trousers. Regina had found the clothes in an old room in the castle that was used for storage.

"Would you like to dance?"

"Well technically it's the man who's suppose to ask the woman to dance you know." Daniel joked. "But yes." Daniel smiled at her. "I would love to dance."

"Come on then." Regina grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. She still couldn't believe they had managed to sneak it.

"And who might you be?" The doorman had asked them as they entered the palace, looking them up and down and then at his scroll of paper.

"Where the Duke and Dutchess of Wonderland."

"I'm sorry Sir, Madame, but you don't seem to be on the list."

Regina's face sank. They were never going to get in. Daniel however though had managed to remain completely in character.

"This is an outrage." Daniel bellowed. "This is most unexceptable."

"I'm so sorry Sir." The doorman's voice turned quite.

"Wait till I tell the Queen Of Hearts about this. She'll have your head on the chop just like that."

"No Sir, please." His eyes darted quickly around the room and his voice turned to a whisper. "Look, why don't you and your wife just go straight in. I'm sure your names just forgot to be added."

Daniel nodded as him and Regina entered the room. They had done it.

An hour had passed and they were having the time of their lives. Her dressed sparkle like stars when she twirled around and light reflected onto it from the chandeliers that twinkled brightly down from the high ball room ceiling. She wished the night could go on forever and never had to end. Daniel was such an amazing dancer and was so good at pretending to be a Prince. "Oh what a good Prince he would make." Regina thought. "If only we didn't have to get married in secret."

"What are you thinking about?" Daniel asked her as another slow song began to play.

"You. Us. I'm thinking about our future together" Regina replied. "I can't believe that soon we're going to be married. Oh Daniel, I love you so much!"

"I love you too." Daniel replied. A grin spread across his face.

"Oh, no."

"What is it?" Daniel asked, his voice full of concern.

"It's the King. I didn't know it was HIS Ball we had crashed. I didn't know this was HIS palace. I'm supposed to accept his marriage proposal tomorrow. If he recognises me here with another man and not as myself then he will get suspicious."

"Maybe he won't notice you," I mean there are hundreds of people here," Daniel responded.

"Yeah, maybe. But I can't take that chance. Let go, quick."

She turned to leave pulling on the sleeve of Daniel's shirt.

"Excuse me Madame."

Regina held her breath as she slowly turned around.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but… have we met?"

"I don't think so. Will you excuse me your Highness? I have to leave."

Regina turned again to go.

"Regina!" Regina stopped, her body frozen.

"It's you, isn't it?"

Regina turned to face him.

"Your Highness. I can explain," the words came out in a rush.

"You look so different," he commented, ignoring her words. "And who is this man you've got with you?"

Daniel stood protectingly beside her.

"I'm Daniel, her fiancé."

Regina squeezed her eyes shut.

"Her fiancé. Well this is interesting news. I thought she was going to become my fiancé. I was planning on proposing to her." The King turned to face her. But I see you already have one."

"Please, don't tell my mother. I'm sorry. I know you probably won't understand what I'm about to tell you but..." For a moment Regina was silent. "I love him. I love him more than anything. What we have is true love. When I'm around him I get butterflies in my stomach. The beautiful kind. When I'm around him I find it hard to breath. My heart never stops racing. I don't know if you've ever felt like this before, but it's amazing! It's the most amazing feeling in the world!"

The King thought for a second as Regina held her breath.

"Then who am I to stand in your way! Congratulations." The King exclaimed.

"Really?" Regina couldn't contain her excitement.

"Yes, be happy." The King replied cheerfully. "What you both have really does sound like true love."

"Well… thank you! Thank you so much!" Regina beamed.

Daniel pulled Regina away. Out of earshot from the King.

"What if he's lying?" Daniel said in a whispered. "What if it's all just part of some evil plan? How do we know we can trust him?"

"Because everyone has good in them," Regina replied. "From the surface you might not see it but if you look deep down inside, somewhere, they do. And I know he has good inside of him."

Regina was brought out of her daydream by the sound of Emma's voice.

"Please, don't take this ball away from the people of Storybrook," Emma pleaded. A smirk appeared to Regina's face. It wasn't often she saw Emma pleading for something. "She must really want this ball," she thought.

"People have already brought tickets and started looking for gowns and tuck's," Emma proceeded. "People are so excited about this, and since we still haven't managed to find a way back to The Enchanted Forest it's just what this town needs to liven people's spirits. "Oh come on Regina," her voice sounded more desperate than she wanted it to. It will be fun. It could be just what you need, a bit fun. To start living again and be pulled out of your misery. To help you finally move on."

Regina looked at her with dagger eyes. A ball? Where everyone would be dancing with their loved ones? That was supposed to help her move on? Besides, she wouldn't have anyone to go with."

As if Emma could read her mind she then said; "and I have the perfect guy who I'm sure would be flattered to be your escort for the night. His name's Robin and…"

"I said no Miss Swan, did you not hear me the first time?" Regina could feel the frustration in her voice rising by the minute. "Now if you'll excuse me, as you may recall me saying I'm rather busy," she gestured Emma towards the door.

"Regina!" Emma said, in a last fatal attempt to change her mind. But by this time she'd already been shown to the door.

"Goodbye Miss Swan," the tall white door of the mansion size house slammed shut behind her, making a loud crashing sound.