Regina was sorely tempted to rip her meddling father's heart out of his chest and - not kill him...no, she loved him too much to do that...but she could play an afternoon game of Kick the Heart.

Prince James...or David...or whatever the cretinous young prince (okay, he was probably around the same age as her) insisted on calling himself did not seem to fear her like most others in her kingdom did and it was quickly driving her mad.

She had been forced to endure a tense, formal dinner in the grand dining room with the totalitarian King George in which she barely kept her temper - and her magic - in check. After listening to the old fool drone on and on about how a kingdom needs a good, strong king, she had finally escaped to take an evening stroll in the palace gardens...only to be followed by the prince. It was like he was a lost little puppy.

"I don't understand why you won't at least consider it?"

She stopped dead in her tracks on the cobblestone walkway directly beside the small apple grove and turned to glare at him coldly. "Because I don't need a king...I've already proven that. I have an agenda all my own and I don't need a nescient, pampered prince running about mucking up my plans."

The look she was giving him had brought the bravest of the kingdom's soldiers to their knees in fear but not the half-witted prince. He actually had the nerve to smirk at her as he took a step towards her.

"Oh, you mean your little plan to kill Snow White?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

Her surprise must have shown on her face because that cocky grin of his grew and he took another step towards her as she took an involuntary step back.

"Not such an ignorant prince now, huh?" He took another step and she took another step back.

Okay, he knew what nescient meant. Good for him. If he kept trying to invade her personal space there was a good chance that he was going to get hurt...and she wasn't going to be sorry about it.

"And your little murder plot against your stepdaughter is no big secret, Regina." He shook his head slowly. How dare he address her so informally?! "In fact, it might just be your downfall..." He taunted.

Her downfall? Who did he think he was? She was the Queen, the most powerful Queen in all the kingdoms.

"You see, Your Majesty," He said mockingly. "If you don't agree to marry me, my father has plans to ally our kingdom with Snow White and force you from your throne."

Oh, good King George was not going to be leaving the castle alive.

"Do you have any idea what I could do to you if I so chose?" She hissed.

He rolled his eyes and took another step towards her. This time when she stepped backward, her back came into contact with the trunk of one of her precious apple trees.

"Yes," David bent forward and put a hand on either side of her head on the tree trunk. Unless she used her magic against him, she was trapped. "But you won't." He leaned down and whispered into her ear causing a shiver to run down her spine when she felt his hot breath on her skin.

"How can you be so sure?" She hated how breathy her voice came out. It had been a long time since a man had been this close to her...not since Daniel...and she would be lying to herself if she said that he wasn't having an effect on her. The prince might be vexing but he was also very attractive.

"Because " He leaned back to look into her eyes. "I can give you what you want most...I will help you kill Snow White...and win over the hearts of your people."

"And what would you be getting out of this?" She asked suspiciously. Nothing was ever free in life.

"I would be getting out from under the King's tyrannical thumb and I will gain control of his kingdom upon his death." He answered her honestly. At least he wasn't denying that he had an agenda of his own. That saved a lot of time. "And when that time comes...you never have to see my face again."

Now, she was actually considering his offer of marriage. If she refused his hand, she was in for one hell of a headache with King George...the same went for killing the old fool. Oh, King George wouldn't be able to force her off her throne. All she would have to do was call on the assistance of Rumpelstiltskin. But that would involve a deal of some sort that would surely cause her, even more, trouble down the line. All magic came with a price after all.

If she accepted his marriage proposal, she would be gaining an ally against Snow White when most of the kingdom were firmly on the impudent child's side. And she knew enough of the other kingdoms to know that Prince James (why did he insist on calling himself David?) was very popular with his own people and the people of every kingdom he visited. He could be just what she needed to turn the kingdom against Snow White.

"Separate sleeping chambers and we have a deal."

He grabbed the back of her neck with one hand and roughly yanked her face closer to his before laying a bruising kiss on her lips.

She knew she should push him away - turn him into an eel or something equally as slimy - but she was too stunned to move.

When he pulled away he smirked, "Sealed with a kiss."

He turned around and walked away without another word or a backward glance.

Author's Note: This story is AU so don't be surprised by the way David behaves in this chapter. I personally find Josh Dallas at his sexist in the episodes where he plays Prince James (I can totally get why Ginnifer Goodwin keeps getting pregnant). I wondered what kind of character you would get if you mixed the cocky, evil Prince James with David's ability to be loyal and love. This story was the end result. If you want the moral, good-guy David...go watch the actual show. You will NOT find him here.