Here's Day 4. (No day 3 for me. I wasn't too inspired). I hope you enjoy and don't forget to review.

Set in an AU verse I'm working on called From Friendship with Love.

Tw: mention of abuse (just to be safe)

Day 4: No Curse Storybrooke AU

April 1978, Storybrooke.

There are those kind of days in life when one wonders if they could simply ever be enough.

Today's that kind of day for Regina and as the young girl runs down the streets of Storybrooke towards a place she knows she'll be safe, she wonders what she's ever done for her mother to hate her so much, what can she do to be a better daughter, the daughter Cora would want.

The young girl brings a shaky hand to her swollen cheek, a pool of tears gathering in her eyes and blearing her vision as images of her mother slapping her earlier invades her mind.

Her ears are still ringing and she's getting closer and closer to wanting to throw up with each steps she takes, a reaction to the incessant pounding of her head against her skull. Still, the pain is nothing compared to the one she's feeling in her chest.

After a couple of minutes, she finally catches sight of the Nolan's farm and an immediate feeling of safety shrouds her body. The brunette wipes away her tears and licks the ones that has been caught in between her lips before stepping inside the property.

It's still early in the morning and she knows exactly where David is at this time, on a Sunday. She skirts the small house towards the back yard and a loud sigh of relief followed by a choking sound leaves her mouth when she finally glimpses at him, petting the sheep.

"Hi Regina," David greets, happy to see his friend.

He gets out of the pen, closing it behind him and trotting towards her. However, he's stopped dead in his tracks when he notices the look on the girl's face. The boy frowns watching her intensely until his eyes fall on the bruise on her cheek. David swallows hard, his heart tightening in his chest.

"We had a fight," Regina blubbers, almost choking on a tear. "I broke a vase and I…"

She doesn't finish her sentence, her heart too heavy to do so, and she simply lets the tears fall quietly, her body shaking with each sobs.

"I'm so sorry Regina," the boy consoled, taking her hand in his.

"I just don't know why she doesn't like me," the brunette continues, looking up to meet his eyes.

"Come, let's go into the barn," he tells her, holding tight onto her hand and the girl acquiesces silently, following him.

Once inside, they both sit down against a bale of hay, the cows looking at them with curiosity before going back to their routine.

The two children stayed silent for a while, Regina focused on an invisible spot on the ground as she played with her fingers.

"Your daddy wasn't there?" She hears David ask softly and she nods.

"He stayed to calm her down and told me to go play outside," she says, eyes still down.

There's another small pause settling between them and she feels David's hand gently squeezing her shoulder. She looks up at him, the corner of her mouth tucking to form a fleeting smile.

"I don't like it when you cry," the boy voices, tears of his own gathering in his eyes. "It's not fair. I wish we could run away together, get you far from her..." His voice breaks on the last word and he lowers his gaze.

Regina's lip trembles and she bits it to force herself not to cry. She takes her friend's hand in hers, gently motioning him to look at her.

"But you can't leave your mommy. And I don't want to leave my daddy either," the girl says, smiling sadly.

"I know. I just wish I could keep you from ever crying again…It hurts me there," David admits, a hand on his heart.

Suddenly, an idea pops into his mind and he opens his eyes wide in excitement.

"What if we get married?"

Regina immediately looks up, frowning with her lips parted in confusion.

"Married?" She repeats, wondering if she's heard him well. "Like the grown-ups?"

"Yes," David exclaims, already jumping on his feet. "If we're married I can protect you from her. You'd come to live here with me and my mommy but you'd still get to see your daddy."

"But -Can we do that?" Regina asks timidly, standing up in turn.

"Why not?! If the grown-ups can do it, why can't we?" He beams happily and the brunette can't help but chuckle a little, her heart already feeling lighter.

David smiles before looking around. A pleased "ah" leaves his mouth when he finds what he's been looking for. He trots towards the window and grabs a piece of wire that's been hanging next to it. Carefully wrapping it around his finger, he shapes it into a ring and runs back to his friend.

"My mommy told me that to get married you have to give a ring to the girl and you have to," he takes the girl's hand in his, "put it around her finger," he whispers, running his tongue on his lips as he carefully does so, "like this."

Regina looks down at her hand and she finds herself grinning softly at the sight of the grey handcrafted object around her finger.

"Does that mean we're married?" She asks before tucking her lips inside her mouth, shyly.

"I think so," David replies, eyes brightening at the realisation.

He glances up at her and a careful smile appears on his lips.

"Does that make you happy?"

Regina immediately nods, chuckling with joy.

"Thank you," she tell him, happily.

"What's going on in here?" A teasing voice interrupts them and the two children look up to find David's mother at the entrance of the barn.

"Mommy," David exclaims, running towards her. "Regina and I are married."

"Are you, now?" The woman asks in surprise, tousling her boy's hair.

"Mmh," David acquiesces. "I gave her a ring."

To illustrate his words, Regina raises her hand timidly and Ruth lets out a cackle at the sight.

"You did indeed," she says amusedly, walking towards her son's best friend. "Do your parents know you're here?" She asks gently and the brunette's smile immediately fades. "I see…" Ruth mutters, a pang in her chest. "What's that on your face, darling?" She asks suddenly, her eyes catching the swelling of the girl's cheek.

Regina absently brings a hand to her face before turning to hide her wound, almost shameful.

"Her mommy was mean again," David tells his mother in a whisper.

"Not mean," Regina interrupts, lowering her gaze. "She's just…I'm not a good enough daughter."

"Hey, don't say this," Ruth says putting a finger under the brunette's chin. "You are a very good girl." She assures, gazing into her eyes gently.

"Why doesn't she love me then?" The girl inquires, tears starting to fill her eyes again.

"You're making her cry again, mommy. Stop!" David interrupts them, taking Regina's hand. "That's why we got married. Now, Regina can live with us. So even if her mother doesn't love her, we can love her and she'll never cry again," he says, watching the girl happily and she smiles a little.

"Oh sweetie…I wish it were that simple but it doesn't work like that."

"What do you mean?"

"Well first, you're too young to get married and until the contrary is ruled in court, Regina has to stay with her parents," Ruth explains to him, watching them with empathy.

"But she hurts her," David insists, sad eyes locked into his mother's, his lower lip already quivering.

"Well, the police…"

"No," Regina cuts instantly as soon as the word leaves the woman's mouth, "Not the police. Please, I don't want…I…"

"It's alright, sweetheart. No police, I get it," Ruth reassures her, rubbing her arms soothingly so she can calm down. "What about we go inside, I'll tend to your cheek and make you both some fresh juice with the apples that David picked this morning, what do you think?"

The brunette nods, sniffing as she wipes her running nose with the back of her hand.

"Let's go then," Ruth says, straightening up.

She lifts the girl to take her in her arms and holds out her free hand for David to grab.

Tomorrow, she'll go to the station. She knows there are very little chance they'd do much since Cora is the mayor and therefore, a very powerful woman but, Regina's young and scared and despite everything, she loves her mother dearly…Somebody has to protect her or at least try to do so and if she has to, Ruth will gladly be that person.