Regina raced into the stables and skidded to a stop, her eyes roving the dim interior as she looked for the stable boy. "Daniel?" She called out, softly at first so that no one else would hear. When there was no response, she spoke louder, more frantic. "Daniel!"

The clip-clopping of horse hooves came from the other side of the barn. Daniel and a mare soon followed. As soon as he caught sight of Regina, Daniel dropped the lead rope and rushed forward to meet his beloved. She fell against him, burying her face in his chest. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Immediately Daniel could sense something was off. "Did you…did you lose it?" He swallowed and pressed his lips against her head. Gods, anything but that! he prayed silently. Regina shook her head silently, too overwhelmed to answer more. Daniel had to know more though. "Regina, what is it?" He finally held her out at arm's length so he could get a good look at her face.

She took a shaky breath before whispering, "She knows."

"She knows?" Daniel was glad they didn't have to hide it anymore but was also scared. Cora wasn't known for her kindness. And any sign of improper behavior from her daughter was not tolerated.

"Let's go. Let's run away. We can start fresh and raise our family in peace," she pleaded. Her hand rested across her still-flat stomach as if to protective the growing being there from whatever her mother could concoct. "Please…"

Daniel hated the tortured look in her eyes and would do anything in her powers to make it go away. So he nodded. "Of course. We'll take Adair and Monty and ride as far as we can."

Regina almost collapsed in relief. Their lips met in a brief moment of passion before they had to break apart to ready themselves for the journey. However before they could fully split, Daniel was thrown back against one of the stalls with a huff as the air was forced from his body. Regina whirled around to find Cora standing in the doorway, a smile set in place. Regina's hand flew to her mouth in panic, her head shaking slowly as she backed away from the woman and closer to the father of her child.

"Regina, child, come away from there. We have so much to plan for!" Cora's voice sounded excited. Too excited. Regina's guard immediately doubled.

"What do you want with him, mother?"

"Him? Why would I want anything to do with him? No, child. The king is asking for you. And I suggest you listen to his offer."

Regina refused to move from her spot at Daniel's side. With a sigh, Cora clenched her hand and Regina could feel the air press in against her. Not this again, her eyes pleaded. Cora ignored the look. Her clenched fist was pulled closer to her body and Regina's trapped form moved with it. "There's a good girl," her mother's smile was sickening. "We have many plans to make before things get complicated. You'll want your princess to be raised correctly, would you not?"

Something in Cora's words struck Regina. "What do you mean?"

"Why, you're going to have the next princess."

Regina shook her head. Her mother honestly couldn't be that dense. "Mother, it's not the king's. And it will never be the king's."

"I don't know what you're talking about, dear."

Regina tried to straighten but the bindings of her mother's magic prevented that. "You know perfectly well what I'm talking about, mother."

Cora tilted her head at her daughter, that smile still plastered on her face, and made her way slowly toward Daniel, leaving Regina waiting by the doorway. Regina watched, wondering what her mother's next ruse was as she drew closer to Daniel. A scream ripped from her throat as Cora's hand buried into Daniel's chest and tore out the pulsing light that was his heart. With it held firmly in her hand, Cora turned back to her daughter again. "I don't know what you're talking about." She repeated, giving the heart a small squeeze. Daniel cried out in pain. Regina cried with him.

"I...I don't know what I mean either…" Regina choked out.