Chapter 1 – The Promise
An elated, yet exhausted sigh escaped Regina's full lips as she gazed down at the precious bundle held tightly in her arms. Her baby was not yet sleeping through the night, and this one was no exception. A small pink hand reached up from the blankets, wrapping four minuscule fingers around her thumb, squeezing tightly. Regina felt a smile spread across her face as she stared deep into the baby's blue-grey eyes, the familiarity of those eyes almost taking her breath away as a memory flooded through her thoughts.
Daniel. The stable boy. Her true love who was taken from her. Regina wanted to clasp hold of the ring he had given her which hung from a chain around her neck, however, her baby still had a tight hold of her thumb and she couldn't bear to attempt to move her. Instead, drifting into memories of her lost love, Regina didn't know if she would ever succeed in removing from her mind the painful image of Daniel lying in her arms on the stable floor; lifeless as well as heartless, her mother looming over them with that smug look she had mastered so well. If only Snow White had kept her promise and not betrayed her, then she would be far from the castle by now, with Daniel and their baby, together as a family.
Regina felt tears well in her eyes as a soft gurgle sounded from the blankets. Blinking quickly to clear her vision she tilted her head down to gaze upon her baby once more. A tear escaped her eyes and slowly trickled down her cheek before falling softly onto her baby's forehead. The baby's beautiful eyes widened and the tight hold on Regina's thumb was released, the small hand stretching upwards towards her face.
"Hello, dear." Regina said, forcing thoughts of Daniel to the back of her mind. She let out a small laugh of her own as she lowered her head, enabling the baby to touch her face. "My sweet little Daniela," she whispered, gently wiping away the fallen tear that had splashed onto her daughter's head.
Comforted by the sound of her mother's voice, the baby nuzzled further into her warm hold, giggling as Regina lightly tickled her stomach through the soft blankets.
Regina felt love swell in her heart as she listened to the adorable laughter of her daughter, tears of happiness pricking her eyes as she gently bounced her daughter up and down in her arms.
"I'm going to protect you, sweetheart," Regina whispered, "I promise I won't ever let anyone or anything hurt you."
Her thoughts drifted again, this time to her mother. So far she had managed to keep her far away from Daniela and hoped for it to remain that way. Regina knew that her mother didn't approve of her daughter's father and she couldn't bear to think about what Cora might do to her baby if given half the chance. Her mother managed to control her life, and she was not going to let her control Daniela's as well.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Regina jumped, her heart skipping a beat as she took a small intake of breath. She knew that voice all too well and hesitantly lifted her head towards the now open door of her chambers. Her suspicions were confirmed as she saw her mother, dressed in an emerald green nightgown, her lips forming a small smirk. Regina let out a shaky breath and forced her voice to sound steady as she spoke.
"Hello, Mother."
Regina instinctively held the bundle closer to her chest, watching as Cora strode into the darkened room without replying, becoming much too close for Regina's liking. "I came to see my granddaughter," she stated as she studied the baby who had long since stopped giggling and was staring up at Cora, an innocent yet confused expression spreading across her tiny features.
"Well, Mother, you've seen her. Now will you please leave?" Regina asked quietly as she reclined backwards on her bed, trying to put as much distance between them without loosening her grip on her daughter. She would never forgive her mother for killing Daniel.
A chilling chuckle, which sent a shiver down Regina's spine, escaped Cora's mouth. "I will leave," she began. "After I hold my granddaughter."
Regina froze as Cora reached out and attempted to move Daniela from her arms and into her own. She watched, barely breathing, as her baby was lifted up into Cora's possessive hold.
"I hear you named her after that lowly stable boy. Daniela? Stupid name!"
"Mother!"
"But, I suppose, it will do. She will make a fine heir for you and King Leopold," Cora stated, the sinister smirk still plastered on her face. "She must never know of her true father."
At this Regina shook her head, reaching out her arms in an attempt to pull her daughter away from Cora. "Mama, no!" she choked out, sickened by how her mother could dictate her in such a way, and terrified by the mere thought of her doing the same to Daniela as she grew older.
"Don't raise your voice at me, Regina." Cora scolded as she took a step backwards, away from the bed. "She will be brought up as King Leopold's daughter and shall be raised to believe as such!"
Regina shook her head frantically. "Her father is Daniel!" she spat, her eyes darkening.
Glaring at her daughter through narrowed slits, Cora readjusted the baby into an uncomfortable position, causing Daniela to squirm in her arms, her tiny features scrunching up. "You know, Regina ... I would hate for something bad to happen to this little one. She's so ... fragile."
Regina leapt up from the bed with newfound energy, and slowly advanced on her mother. "Give her back," she demanded dangerously, earning a bitter laugh from Cora.
"Have you changed your mind, dear? Will you raise her correctly?"
Regina's breathing quickened and she struggled to stay calm. "Yes, mother," she began, "Please, give her back to me."
Smiling far too sweetly, Cora placed the baby back into Regina's waiting arms. "Of course, darling," she said as Regina eagerly took hold of her daughter, "I know you won't disappoint me."
Regina stood watching in shock as Cora walked out of the door, shutting it behind her with a soft click. She regained her position on the queen-sized bed, pushing her long ebony waves from her face with her free hand and waiting patiently until her mother's footsteps faded into the distance.
Wiping away a lone tear that had escaped her eye, she once again gazed down at her daughter, rocking her gently in her arms.
"Oh Daniela, I'm so sorry," she whispered, blinking back fresh tears as she watched her daughter's eyes flutter shut, and heard her breathing even out.
"One day you will know who your father is, but I have to keep you safe. I won't let her hurt you. I won't let her control your life as she does mine." Feeling a wave of exhaustion, Regina bit back a yawn. She couldn't bring herself to return her sleeping daughter back into her crib after the unnerving encounter with her mother, and so after blowing out the candle on her bedside table, she pulled the covers over herself, holding her baby protectively against her chest. Her last whispered words into Daniela's ear as sleep overcame her were an honest promise never to become her mother.
A/N: I haven't yet decided if I will continue with this story or not, but we shall see :) Please review! I'd love to know what everyone thought of this, and would be very grateful for any constructive criticism to help me improve. This is my first fan fiction so I hope I've done okay!