3.

It was sunset. The skyline was coloured orange, pink and a pale blue, and the air started to be quite cold. Regina and David were walking in silence through the immense field at the back of her parents' castle. David seemed lost in thoughts as well as Regina. While they were walking she could have swore she felt sparks once or twice between them where their arms had brushed against each other. But when she looked discreetly at him, she couldn't see any reaction from his part so she decided she must have been imagining things.

As they approached the big mansion, Regina started to feel slightly apprehensive and unwillingly started to shiver. When David noticed it, he immediately wrapped his arms around her. They both froze at the gesture.

"I..I..I'm sorry..I didn't mean to...I saw you were shivering..I didn't think.." David started stuttering.

Regina chuckled, eyes still wide in surprise and cheeks a light pink. "N...No, it's okay. Don't worry. I know you meant well. I was just a bit...surprised. That's all." She smiled gently at him and she felt him relax next to her.

"OK. Good. I wouldn't want a princess to feel the least uncomfortable because of my behavior." David winked and both he and Regina laughed a little. "Here, take my coat." He said handing her the said piece of clothing. She was about to refuse when she felt a shiver running through her from the top of her head down to her whole spin. David added "Regina, don't play stubborn with me please. I have a thick blouse and plus I am not cold." Seeing her still hesitate, he rolled his eyes and told her "If you don't take that coat, you will get cold, have a fever, will faint just like yesterday and I will have to carry you until your father's castle where your parents will think I attacked you and they will throw me into their dungeon and cast a spell on me so I am an ugly frog forever. Is that what you want Regina?" David looked seriously into the girl's most perplexed and widest eyes he had ever seen her adorning until now.

"Is he being serious right now?" Regina thought confused before bursting into laughter before the boy's faked serious face. "Is it the confession of your truest wish Charming?" Regina asked."You don't know how close you are from reality though..." Regina thought still laughing.

On hearing that, David couldn't contain himself anymore so they both laughed wholeheartedly. When she came back a bit to her senses, Regina took the coat from his hands not wanting to make an attempt at the shepherd's story.

xXx

When they arrived at the castle -and Liara, her maid started shouting "Princess Regina is back! Princess Regina is back!" throughout the whole building, making Regina roll her eyes and David chuckle, -they saw a much relieved Prince Henry running towards them followed by a much irritated Cora who glared at the maid making her freeze and disappear in another room in silence.

"Regina, love!" Prince Henry hugged her tightly against his chest, as she laid her head on his shoulder. "We were so worried! Where were you? What happened to you?" Prince Henry asked her releasing her a little but moving his hands to her cheeks. He looked into her eyes with worried ones.

Regina sighed. "Father. Always so dramatic but always there to love me..." She thought before starting to explain. "I guess you already know what happened in that king's castle..? Well, I got lost in the woods and David found me and took care of me..." She didn't want nor had the strength to give more details. She could already feel the fever starting to rise again.

"David?"

Prince Henry hadn't noticed the boy's presence until now, too worried about his daughter's well-being. He turned to him at the mention of his name and smiled at him. He went towards him and hugged him awkwardly as he was shorter than the boy. Regina giggled when she saw David's most confused face and she could almost hear the wheels turning in his head wondering how to react. Before he could make any decision though, Prince Henry loosened his grip around him.

"Thank you for taking care of my daughter. Is there anything I can do for you? What do you do in life?"

"I..I am...We have a farm and sheep. It is very thoughtful of you but my mother and I do not wish to bother you nor do we need anything." David told the prince while regaining his composure. "We are only glad that we could help and that Reg..Princess Regina is better now." While adding this, David turned a little toward Regina who was looking at him and smiled at her. She smiled back at him but looked down as she felt she was starting to blush.

"What is happening to you Regina? Why do you act like this? You love Daniel for God's sake!" She really had no clue on why he had that effect on her. His blue gaze on her made her feel uncomfortable yet happy. How confusing..

"You seem like a good boy. Don't hesitate in asking anything and give my sincerest thanks to your mother."

"Will do."

Prince Henry shook the boy's hand. He was about to take his daughter to her room but, although she was starting to feel really sick, she freed herself from his embrace and went toward the shepherd. She was standing in front of him and smiled. So did he.

"Thank you so much for everything David!" Regina said taking one of his hand in hers. "I don't know if I would still be alive if it was not for you and Ruth."

"You don't need to thank us. We would have done it either way." David's smile grew wider and this time he was the one stroking her hands. "Regina, you are boiling! You should go and rest."

Regina was indeed starting to sweat and barely had the strength to stand but she didn't let it show. She leant forward and hugged him much to his -and her own- surprise. "I hope we'll see each other again soon." She said against his chest.

"We definitely will."

Cora, who hadn't said anything till then, couldn't stand this masquerade as she would have called it. She snorted loud enough for the three other people in the room to hear and feel uncomfortable.

"Thank you boy. We will take care of our daughter from now on." Cora declared sharply as she took her daughters by the elbows making her step back.

David simply nodded and turned heels toward the entrance of the castle while Cora and Regina headed towards the grand staircase, followed by Prince Henry.

Regina couldn't help but look over her shoulder. He had done the same thing at the exact same moment and when their eyes locked into each other's they both smiled.

Oh yes, they were definitely going to see each other again.


Hello! So here is my third chapter. I had a lot of fun but also a very hard time writing it, so i really hope you enjoyed it! Also thank you for reading my fic. :D

Talk to you soon! Ciao!