I am really quite excited and happy with how you guys are enjoying this story! I've got lots planned for it :) reviews are really appreciated, I love hearing what you all think!

"I like this," she smiled as she stepped carefully with her arms outstretched to either side of her, his hand holding hers offering balance.

"Like what?"

"Not knowing your name, it's like a game," she watched her feet, carefully placing them one in front of the other on the moss covered log.

He smiled, holding her hand gently in his. She didn't need it, her balance was superb, but it was just another excuse to touch her. Every time he did his body tingled with warmth and excitement shivered through his body, "I've been trying to guess your name," the corners of his mouth pulled up in to a smile, almost embarrassed.

"Oh yeah?" She chuckled softly and bent toward him, "figure it out?"

"No," he admitted with a smile, "no I can't come up with anything that suits you," he looked up at her to find a wide grin on her face. Even in such simple clothes she was beautiful to him, he wished she wasn't married. If she wasn't married he would have taken her for himself long ago. It had been weeks since they first met and he knew quite well that he was falling in love with her if he hadn't fallen completely already.

She stopped at the end of the log and turned to him, putting her hands on his shoulders and letting him put his hands on her waist to steady her as she jumped down, "you want me to tell you my name," she slid her hands down to his chest, heart skipping when he kept her so close.

"Not yet," his voice was almost a whisper when he forced it out, stunned by her flawless features. She was relaxed in his arms, looking directly at him in a way that stopped his heart and made it hard to breath. He wanted to kiss her, he wanted to kiss her with every fibre in his body but she was already taken. Unhappy as her marriage may be, she was taken.

Her breath caught in her throat when he looked at her with such desire in his blue eyes. It wasn't the first time she had wondered what it would be like to kiss him, nor would it be the last, "you know," she smiled and backed slowly out of his hands, "one of these days you're going to run out of excuses to hold me close and you're going to just have to do it without one," she flashed him a wide smile, white teeth grinning knowingly before she turned around to walk forward.

He bowed his head and laughed under his breath, embarrassed that she had caught him. Slowly her words registered further and he lifted his head, did she want him to hold her? Curious, he walked forward, quickly until he was right next to her where he matched her pace with ease, "how are things with your step daughter?"

Regina shrugged simply, "better. I mean, I haven't forgiven her, I don't think I ever will but um," she drifted off in to thought for a moment before she nodded, keeping her eyes on the forest floor, "it's getting better, I can look at her now without wanting to have her killed so I guess that's an improvement," she smiled up at him to find him smiling back. He had often asked how she was getting along with her, she had never told him her name or what she had done and he never asked. He listened and helped her cope, he had found that the girl was one of the main sources of her troubles on his own and he apparently wanted to try and fix her.

A laugh rose out of him from deep in his throat, "yes I'd say that that's quite the improvement," his brow creased in amusement as he looked down at her, a smile lighting up her face, "and what of your husband?" At the mention of her husband her smile faded and saddened.

"There is no change there," her voice trailed off, not particularly wanting to dwell on the subject of her marriage. They walked a few steps in comfortable silence before she started to laugh, "I think I may have come up with another excuse for you to hold me close," she lifted her chin mockingly, "if you're up for it that is."

"Always," he laughed as she bumped in to him and gave out one of her piercing whistles.

...

"Do you not know how to ride?"

He shook his head as he laughed, still impressed how she had effortlessly vaulted on to her horse bareback, "of course I know how to ride, I've just never ridden like this before," he waited with a wide grin as the small woman positioned her horse next to a fallen tree so he could get on with ease.

"Well then you had better hold on tight, dear," she cocked her head playfully, unable to wipe the childish grin from her face. She gathered the reins in her hands as he walked around Rocinante and her discarded saddle to the log beside her. She watched with amusement as he paused, contemplating the easiest and least clumsy way to get on, "here," she laughed and offered him her hand.

He looked at it, a little doubtful that she'd be able to help him up without being pulled off herself. Giving in, he raised his eyebrows and sighed as if to say 'here goes nothing' and then took her hand and was impressed how easily she had helped pull him up, not moving an inch from her perch.

"Ready?" She turned her head slightly to look over her shoulder and her heart started racing when his warm breath skimmed her jaw and his hands snaked around her waist as his chest pressed against her back. She knew his movements were more than just simply bracing himself. They were too slow for that, it was as though he was trying to memorize her. She found herself melting in to him, closing her eyes as he pressed the side of his head against hers.

He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent and going against every nerve in his body demanding that he kiss her, "ready," he whispered and ran his hands slowly up and down her ribs, chest tightening as she hummed softly through her breath and lifted her head and gathered her reins once again.

"Where do you want to go?" She felt the need to stall so she could clear her head from the want she felt for him before she fell off.

"Do I have a choice?"

Regina smirked gently, "no, no not really," she pushed Rocinante in to a walk and turned her around to where they had come in. She laughed to herself how his hands tightened around her waist at the movement, "relax you're fine," and with that she asked her mare in to a steady canter. She laughed loudly as a low and nervous yelp escaped him at the change in pace and his arms tightened even more.

She leaned back against him, offering some sort of movement to copy and he relaxed instantly, moving with her and her horse with a sudden ease as though he'd been doing it for years. He became more confident with every stride he didn't fall or slip and he was soon laughing freely with her. Her horse carried them with great strength over the uneven forest floor and the trees flew past them, it was no wonder she found this so exhilarating. As they broke out of the trees and in to the fields he leaned closer to the brunette's ear, "does this thing not go any faster?"

Regina let out a deep throaty laugh and asked for a faster speed, Rocinante immediately responding and opening in to a full out gallop. She had never felt anything like it before, Rocinante's hooves thundering beneath her, a man who cared for her holding her and laughing with her as he enjoyed the power and speed of her horse beneath them, it made her feel light, it made her feel...happy.

Ruth was brought out of her gardening at the sound of laughter and hoof beats. She stepped away from the garden and closer to the edge of the small hill until she saw what was causing the heart lifting noise. Her son sitting behind a woman, both laughing as a chestnut horse galloped through the field scattering the sheep.

It had been too long since she had heard her son laugh like that so she stood and watched them and listened to the increase in laughter whenever the woman had the horse take a sharp turn causing her son to slip and nearly tumble off. She began to laugh with them, the pair entirely enthralled in each other. She wondered if they knew they had fallen for each other.

She watched them with a warm smile as the brunette steered the galloping horse toward the house, the two of them laughing and smiling so wide their cheeks must have been hurting. Her son's hands were holding the woman's waist and her head was turned down and to the side as he whispered something in her ear as they neared the house. What ever he had said had made the woman laugh as she tilted her head up to look at him.

"Mother!" He slipped off the side of the horse when she came to a halt.

"Hello my dear," she opened her arms wide and pulled him in to a hug and kissing his cheek, "and you," she turned her attention to the young woman standing next to the horse, "you must be the woman keeping my son from his chores."

Regina was unsure of how to approach her, her mother had never shown much kindness and she was unsure if this woman was about to scorn her or if she was just being playful. So she stood still, a nervous smile on her face.

"My dear," Ruth walked up to her, confused at how tense the woman was when she held her arms, "I am not upset, how could I be upset with the nameless beauty who makes my son so happy?"

The older woman's warmth was entirely foreign to Regina but she felt the tension release itself from her body and was replaced with a shaky but relieved laugh as she ducked her head down.

Ruth smiled at her and rubbed her hands over her arms, "you are a tortured one aren't you."

Regina nodded slowly and met the older woman's eyes, "yes well I..." She didn't know what to say, she was waiting for the cold glare, the sharp words, a raised hand across her fair skin. Instead she was pulled in to a hug, her eyes widened in shock and looked to the blue eyed shepherd who stood with his arms folded over his chest and a peaceful smile. Hesitantly, she laid her arms around the older woman and cautiously allowed herself to relax.

Ruth pulled away slowly and shook her head as she smiled and held her hands in hers, "I know you and my son are playing this little name game so I won't ask you for yours but you may call me Ruth."

"Ruth," she nodded and smiled, she was enjoying this new form of a mother.

Ruth smiled at her and took a step back to look over the girl, hands still in hers, "well look at you!" She twirled the young girl around her finger, "aren't you just a pretty little thing," the girl's laughter was infectious and she could hear her son laughing softly behind her as she laughed too, "will you be staying for dinner? I can set another place for you."

"Oh, no, thank you, thank you very much but I really must be going," she shook her head shyly.

"Of course, perhaps another time? I would love to get to know the woman who has stolen my son's heart," she squeezed her hand affectionately, smiling at how the girl's eyes widened and shot to her son.

"Mother!"

"What?!"

"No it's fine," Regina shook her head, "really, I mean it's uh...it's nice to know someone truly cares for me," she caught his eyes and held them. It was a wonder to her how he had managed not to put any walls up like she had, she could see right in to him and feel the warmth and care he shot her way. Breaking the eye contact, she shook her head and cleared her throat, "wow, um," she laughed nervously and looked down before meeting Ruth's eyes, "I have to get going, I'll see you again?"

"Yes dear, you are welcome here any time," she ran her thumbs over the backs of her hands, the concern for her clear in her expression.

"Great," Regina squeezed Ruth's hands as she backed up toward her mare. The concern on her face hit her hard, she had only just met this woman and yet she was showing more care for her than her own mother ever had. She found herself laughing happily to herself and she vaulted on to Rocinante's back, "I really would love to stay for dinner sometime."

"Well then I suppose you'd better come back," she raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips. Her playfully stern face was replaced with a smile as the girl gathered her reins with the brightest of smiles.

"I suppose I better," she nodded to the both of them in goodbye and let her eyes linger on the blue eyed shepherd. For one brief moment she let her walls come crashing down and she savored the kindness reflected in his eyes reserved only for her. Then just like that she set them back up and gently pulled her horse around.

"Did she not know?" Ruth turned to her son after the girl had ridden out of earshot.

He shrugged, "I don't know. She's married."

Ruth's features softened with sadness, "oh, dear I'm sorry," she shook her head, "you two are so happy together," she cocked her head sadly as she walked toward him, "I can see that you love her and I'm quite certain that she loves you too, she just isn't sure how to show it," she held her son's face between her hands, "love will always find a way. I hope you believe that."

He could only manage a small smile as he put his hands over his mother's, "I certainly hope that that is true."

...

Regina had walked right past her, entirely unaware that she was there. Snow watched her with a smile because of the smile she was sporting as she laughed under her breath. Her smile widened and became crooked with curiosity, "what has got you in such high spirits?"

She was startled by the voice but relaxed instantly when she saw who it belonged to, "I had a very good ride," it wasn't a lie, she did have a good ride, with the shepherd holding her close. She could still feel the warmth and steadiness his large hands had provided around her waist. Regina didn't want to tell Snow, she didn't know if she could trust the girl with any further secrets.

"You've been having a lot of good rides lately," she was sure Regina had heard the underlying question when she stopped and turned slowly on her heels.

"Yes," she drew the word out longer than necessary, silently demanding that if she wanted answers she was going to have to ask flat out and that she had better tread very lightly.

"Why is that?"

"I don't think I can trust you with my secrets, dear," she shook her head sharply, "you haven't exactly had a great track record."

Snow cocked her head and gently squinted her eyes, "well why does it have to be a secret?"

"Because I don't particularly trust anyone but myself with things I hold dear to me," she shifted her weight so both feet held her evenly as she held her wrist in one hand and let her arms hang limp in front of her, her face carefully schooled do give nothing away but self preservation.

"You don't trust me?"

"I don't know if I can."

"Well of course you can," she stepped forward so she stood well within arms length of her step mother. She raised her chin and looked down at her, inspecting her with great doubt which stung, "Regina, I am your daughter, you are my mother, you can trust me with anything," the cold doubt was still blatantly present over her face as she looked down at her, head held high, "I think I should know what has finally begun to make you happy."

Regina sighed tightly, scanning her eyes over the hopeful expression on Snow's face. She contemplated it, if she were to confide in her and she were to keep her secret it would likely strengthen her relationship with her but if she were to tell and her shepherd were to be hurt? She wasn't entirely she'd be able to recover herself let alone salvage her relationship with Snow. If she refused to tell her, she would question her until she got an answer and there was no guarantee that she would not go to her father or anyone else to try and get answers and she had a feeling that that would not fare well.

"If I tell you, you must promise me you will not tell a single soul."

There was a threat beneath her tone but Snow smiled, giddy at the chance to earn her trust, "I promise."

Regina looked her up and down once more before lowering her chin, "I've met someone."

Snow cocked her head and her brow furrowed, "met someone? As in...?"

"No," Regina answered quickly and shook her head, "no not like that, no. We have become good friends, he's been helping me find myself again."

"Well that's great! Why would you want to keep that a secret?"

"Your father, my husband, he is a kind man and he is trying, I know that. I do not wish to spread rumors that I have...run off with another man," she noticed her hands were fidgeting and she quickly stopped them and gripped them tightly, grateful for the gloves to hide her knuckles that were likely turning white.

"Would you?"

"Of course not," that was a lie, if given the chance she would gladly run away with her nameless shepherd, she would run with not so much as a second thought. She shook her head, her ability to lie had grown strong over the years, "I am loyal to you and your father, the thought never crossed my mind."

Snow stepped closer, taking Regina's hands in her own, "that is wonderful, mother. That you have found a friend in this life," she squeezed her hands and smiled at her, "I am happy for you," she could see the start of a smile pull at the corner of her mouth but it was weak and didn't last, "will you tell me about him?"

Regina was almost annoyed at how excited she sounded. The shepherd was hers, the one thing that was strictly hers, she didn't want to share him especially with Snow of all people. She shook her head and forced a smile, "I'm afraid I don't know much about him."

"But you said you were good friends?"

"Yes."

"Mother," she laughed quietly, "mother that doesn't make any sense."

Regina smiled, a real one this time, "it makes perfect sense, dear."