This was a request on Instagram from the fabulous Storybrookeoutlawqueen! I don't recall the words exactly but it was something along the lines of "an Enchanted Forest story with lots of emotion!" And that is just right up my alley ;) I am sorry it took me so long to get it up but I do have another couple chapters for it just sitting and waiting to be put up too. I don't know how many chapters it will have but it is certainly not a one shot.

And since it is EC Week I am going to do my best to spam you guys with lots of new things to read! But I must go before I run out of writing time!

Enjoy! More feels to come! ;)

He had grown so tired of this feud. This war with the Evil Queen. It had been exhausting and he was coming to realize that it was not over. He had believed it had all finished when they had decided to banish her, when they had made a deal with Rumple that resulted in himself and Snow being physically protected from Regina's wrath. Physically. That was all.

It didn't take more than a few hours for him to realize this war was far from over and that his darling Snow was emotionally compromised. That despite Rumplestiltskin's assurances that no harm could be done by the queen's hand, Snow's heart and soul were still tortured by the dark woman. Mercilessly.

David never did understand Snow's obsession with Regina. Nor did he understand Regina's with Snow. But at least the queen's motives were not stemmed from illusion. She had her reasons and Snow was not hesitant to agree the woman's reasons held merit. But to rehabilitate the queen to recreate the idealistic image of the young woman idolized by a young girl's eyes...there was no hope for that. There was no way of knowing that that girl ever existed. Any child would be enamoured by their rescuer if they found themselves near death. They would hold no flaws in their eyes and despite the stories, David never did truly believe that Snow's depiction of Regina in their younger years had been entirely accurate.

How could he believe that this monster of a queen was once such an innocent and gentle creature?

He didn't. He never had and he doubted he ever would. But since the execution turned banishment, his Snow had fallen silent. She wouldn't speak, she would barely move, she was tormented by the loss of her stepmother and David was distressed. He couldn't make her feel better. No matter what he did he could barely get a smile from her on the best of days. Regina remained locked in her cell in the tower and Snow remained quiet and grieving. She had, after all, lost the person she held most dear.

He had accepted long ago that he came second to Regina in Snow's life. There was no mistaking it and no getting away from it it would seem. He didn't mind, he was used to it. Regina had been in Snow's life much longer and had clearly dug in to her heart much deeper than he. It wasn't going to change and he was learning that even when all hope was lost for her, Regina still took precedence over himself. It was nothing new.

It only made his curiosity stronger though and the need to know the truth was overwhelming. He needed to understand, he needed to know why Regina hated Snow so dearly and why Snow loved her so devastatingly in return. He needed to make sense of this debilitating war between these two women.

So he had left his tired and mourning wife-to-be in their chambers and called upon Rumplestiltskin once he was alone and secluded. The imp had appeared in moments and when David had asked for insight on the queen, the imp had laughed in his face. His glittery hands had waved about and his laugh had caused the hairs to rise on the back of David's neck but he insisted upon knowing. And the imp insisted it was a ridiculous and entirely pointless path to chase. A dead end. David didn't care. He needed to know.

It took persuasion but eventually the sparkly green man did surrender a ribbon to him. It was simple in appearance. A deep navy blue satin similar to that of the night sky, maybe two inches wide, and the length of his arm. Nothing special. Save for the fact it was infused with magic that would allow him to look in to the past of whomever's wrist he tied to his. Willing or not. He had made that requirement abundantly clear and Rumplestiltskin seemed to find it amusing. But David was done playing games, he just wanted answers. When he asked the price for such a piece of satin, he was answered with a shrill laugh and the assurance that the price would come in time but Rumple needn't any part in it. It had made David frown in confusion but when the imp questioned his resolution and offered to take the ribbon back, David's hand closed around it. And the gremlin of a man grinned.

It had been five full nights since the attempted execution turned banishment of the queen and on this sixth night David was climbing the stairs to the tower where the queen was kept. His thumb rubbing the smooth ribbon over and over again with each step he took. They were simply preparing for travel. Preparing to move the queen back to Snow's childhood castle where she would live out the rest of her days in banishment. Away from them and away from the people. But moving such a vicious and powerful sorceress without incident was not an easy feat by any means.

So the queen remained locked in her cell with Blue's spells containing the dark magic that flowed through her veins. However, despite her magic being restricted, her dark eyes were already focused on him the moment he came in to her line of sight. Like she was expecting him. He would be lying if he said it didn't send crude shivers down his spine or that the hairs on the back of his neck didn't raise, but he didn't let it show. His eyes remained hard while his mouth stayed in a tired scowl and with a few words he dismissed the guards and the queen smirked when they didn't obey until he scowled harder.

It was only when the three men left them unattended and David stood in front of her cage did she speak, "your men are loyal to your dear princess."

"They are her men."

"Hmm."

"Your tone suggests you think otherwise."

"Should a soldier not respect the orders of its hierarchy?"

"I am still but a shepherd until we are married. Their loyalty lies foremost with Snow. As it should."

"It bothers you though," she singsonged softly as she stepped right up to the bars with a smirk and her fingers curling around the cold metal.

"Why would it?" He argued and her lips twitched in to an amused smile for hardly a moment before her smirk returned and her eyes slowly and carefully studied him from head to toe. And then her shoulders lifted in to a bored shrug and she tilted her head, her eyes focused on his belt and travelling back up.

"You want to build something of your own," she reasoned plainly on a sigh.

"Like you did?"

"Well, you don't strike me as the bloodthirsty type, but," she quirked her head with a playful smile and looked him in the eye, "yes."

"Why did you do it?"

"You are going to have to be far more specific dear," she sighed as she rested her chin on the metal ledge that held the cold bars in place.

"I don't want your reasons for a specific incident. I want your reasons for this entire reign," he told her sharply and once more those lips of hers pulled in to a smile at his tone.

"The charming shepherd has a temper," she purred as she sunk in a little heavier to the bars, putting a slight arch in her back with the motion as he scowled at her.

"I am tired of your games, Regina. I want answers."

"Hmmm," she smirked with a light laugh as she tilted her head, "my reasons are my own, dear. Perhaps I simply am just a lunatic as they all say."

"You are far too smart to be a lunatic."

"You really are charming, aren't you," she grinned and he scowled harder.

"I assure you it was no compliment."

"What else could it have been?" She teased and when he gave her no answer, her lips split to show her teeth in a wildly amused grin. He was just too easy and she was having far too much fun. It had been growing incredibly boring in that cell of hers. His company was welcome entertainment.

"You may be mentally unstable, Regina, but that is not why you have brought so much suffering over this kingdom."

"No? What is then? Surely you have some preconceived idea or you would not be denying my explanation with such adamance."

"Snow speaks of you with too much love in her heart to make me believe it was so simple a reason," he told her and watched as the playfulness in her expression quickly morphed in to contempt.

"Why must all your conversations include that foolish girl. Have you no thoughts yourself?" She drawled out bitterly as she stepped back and turned away from the bars, turning her back to the shepherd. She had no desire to speak of Snow White.

"I resent that."

"Good for you," she retorted as she kept her back turned to him and began fiddling with the candle on her table. She really had nothing else to do.

Crossing his jaw to bite back his words, he went back to the topic at hand before he fell in to one of her traps. This conversation was his. Not hers. He wasn't going to let her take it from him, "she tells me you were good once. That you were one of the best. That the woman you once were is the woman she so desperately strives to become. And the one she is so intent on trying to find in you again."

"If the pair of you would truly talk with one another; I wouldn't have to repeat myself in saying that girl is gone. Snow White killed her."

"But you do acknowledge her existence," he noted as his curiosity spiked to new heights and her silence only encouraged it. She didn't say a word more and he knew he wasn't going to lure her closer again. So he slid the key in to the lock and her head turned over her shoulder just enough to see him open her cell door and step inside. She didn't know what to make of it. He could tell by the slight frown on her mouth and the tension between her eyebrows.

So he stepped inside a little further until her pride had her turning to face him. He was still so very wary of her. Even knowing she couldn't possibly hurt him, his senses were on high alert and his body was tight and ready to react should she try anything. He hated that even in rags she was beautiful. That even without her magic, her appearance remained flawless. Some part of him had always believed she was not a beautiful as they all claimed, that her magic was hiding her physical flaws. Perhaps a horrid complexion or an odd nose or even a couple bumps. But no. She was quite simply just a beautiful woman.

"Is that what you've come up here for?" She questioned with a raise of an eyebrow while her playful smirk made a comeback, "sent the guards away so no one would see or hear us?" She questioned and his confusion grew blatant. So she stepped forward and looked him up and down, "I don't open my legs for just anyone. But for you...well," she smirked and he scowled and harshly swatted her hand away when she tried to touch him.

"No."

"You sound so sure," she teased as she slunk just a little closer so she could rile him up a little more, "Snow would never have to know," she purred as her fingertips made contact with his abdomen. She was more than a little startled though when the gentle man snatched her wrist in his grip and flung her around so her back was pressed to the stone wall and his body kept her pinned there. He was furious over something more than her poking and she quickly recovered with a huffed exhale as she smiled and relaxed against the wall. Then she quirked her head to poke again, "Snow not rough enough for you, dear?"

He remained scowling and she was grinning once more as she hummed and took her time studying him, "I am not playing your games."

"So you keep saying," she replied plainly and her focus fell back on her wrist when his hand let go but it remained hanging up by her head. A dark satin ribbon had been looped around her wrist and she looked at it curiously as she flexed her fingers and smirked, "I recommend you take my clothes off before you tie my arms above my head, dear. Less hassle."

"I want answers, Regina," he snarled and she looked at him in boredom before she went back to examining the ribbon around her wrist, "this is your last chance to tell me your side of the story or I am finding it myself."

Regina looked to at him carefully and after a few moments of trying to figure out what he meant, she looked back at her wrist and turned it to study the ribbon further. There was nothing special about it. Not that she could tell in her current state anyway. The shepherd made her think otherwise though and her voice dipped dangerously in response, "what is this?"

"What turned you in to this monster?"

"Why do you suddenly care so much?"

"Because none of this makes any sense."

"Your conscience would remain clear if you continue to believe I am merely a psychopath."

"My conscience isn't clear. It has become abundantly clear to me these past few days that you are a very important figure in everyones' lives. I don't want to live through what happens if we simply toss you aside."

"Do not preach to me, shepherd," she scolded while she remained entirely relaxed between him and the wall with her wrist still strung up, "you are doing this in an attempt to pull your dear snowflake out of whatever misguided depression she has found herself in."

"It is not misguided to mourn the loss of someone you love."

"I already told you, Charming. She killed her long ago. You are doing this for you. You are trying to know me as a person because now it is in your best interest. Despite Snow White's constant pleas for you to try to see me as anything but the monster I am, you are only listening to her now because she has suddenly stopped asking. You are regretting not listening to her sooner. Now that there is truly no hope for me even in her eyes, you have come to realize that perhaps you were wrong in ignoring her. That perhaps there had been a person worth trying to save and your dear and charming conscience would not be able to cope with such a blow."

"Was I wrong?"

"I suppose we will never know, now will we."

"She tried so hard!" He shouted and she curled her lip back and raised to the fight, "she tried everything to help you! She wanted nothing more than to show you she still loved you but you wouldn't let her! Why?! Why are you so obsessed with ruining her?! What changed you?!"

"Do not pretend as though you can understand! There is no point to subjecting anyone else to the life I have lived! Not a week ago your wish to have me killed was nearly fulfilled and now you stand here before me trying to save me! Enlighten me on your reasons!"

"Snow stopped it! I want to know why! And I want to know why she came up here with a knife so completely trusting in that you wouldn't take it from her!"

"She has poor judgement."

"Tell me, Regina! Tell me why it took so long for her to give up on you!"

"You already have the answer to that. You told me yourself; she still loves me."

"I want to know why!"

"That is beyond my reach," she replied simply for it was mostly the truth, "she is holding on to the image of a person that no longer exists. It is not my fault we share a face."

He was so tired of her words, he was so tired of running in circles with her. It had been years of hell and she still wouldn't level with him. He couldn't tell if she was stubborn, proud, arrogant, or simply mad. But she wouldn't budge. So he swirled his wrist and the ribbon wrapped around him as well. He could feel the magic start to seep in to his system and at first it was uncomfortable but then it eased in to a smooth tug that began to build in warmth. The abrupt widening of Regina's eyes led him to believe she felt something similar.

"What are you-"

"Last chance. You tell me or I find out myself."

"Let go of me!" She shouted as her other hand came to try and claw the ribbon off her wrist. He was quick to take it and pin it to the wall behind her though and her heart started hammering in her chest as the foreign magic flooded her system and started picking through her mind. "David!" She cried out as she fought him but he kept her securely trapped between himself and the wall, "David, stop!"

By the time she realized what he was doing, the fast acting magic already had her crumbling and crying as memories of Leopold flooded her mind. Dark rooms, hot and rank pants against her skin, pain, violation, filth, hatred. Memories that she had worked so hard to bury and forget.

And then there were those of Cora. A strict hand, a sharp tongue, a cruel heart. Obsessive and repetitive. Chanting mantras on how she would be queen no matter the cost. Abuse, painful magic, cold eyes. The manipulation. The hand crushing her dear stable boy's heart. The love she still felt for her mother despite all she had put her through. She wanted her dead as much as she wanted her to love her in return. She hated her mother almost as much as she loved her.

Snow. The raw hatred and the blind rage. The pain and the wish to not love her. The betrayal, the secrets told. The countless attempts of redemption and the near successes of Snow's efforts. The need for Snow's death potent. It was poison, it was an obsession, it was dark. She needed it like she needed air. She hated the girl she loved, she hated the girl she saved, she hated the girl who caught her in the stables, she hated the girl that took everything from her and found it for herself. The child she was forced to dote on until she grew up and was chased from the palace only so she could find love in a poor shepherd boy that no one told her she couldn't be with.

Even with nothing that girl was still given everything. It made the anger burn hotter and the jealousy dig deeper. She needed Snow White dead, she needed her out of her life. She hated that there was a seed of love still buried deep in her heart that she knew would roar to life the moment she killed her. She knew as soon as Snow fell cold and dead and the celebrations came to an end, she would be left with regret and a broken heart the darkest shade of black. But she needed Snow White dead. She needed her heart in her hand, she needed to watch it turn to dust between her fingers so her anger could be quenched and make room for the heartbreak that it stemmed from.

After all, there was still a fondness to the memory of their first meeting. It was plagued with ill intent and loathing but it was still laced with light and love because of the woman she had once been when she chased down that runaway horse.

And then there was Daniel.

David didn't mean to drop her but when the spell had finished he had stumbled backwards and when the ribbon slipped from their wrists, the queen had collapsed to the floor in quiet but pained sobs. His eyes were wide in shock and his heart was racing while his lungs demanded he breathe lest he collapse next to the woman whose life spilled in to his mind. He had been expecting to see and hear her. He had not expected to feel it all too.

They were just flashes, just moments stitched together, but they were more than enough to send his mind in to chaos. Once his balance was regained, he was hurrying out of the cell and not worrying about the fact he left the door wide open. He simply told the guards to close it when he met them at the bottom of the stairs.

The fear in her eyes had been so real when she had begged him to stop.