Daniel sat down at the table as his mother was serving breakfast to him and his father. "Thanks, mother this looks great." Daniel smiled digging into his eggs.

"I'm glad you like it son." The blue eyed, sandy blonde replied. She placed Richard's plate in front of him. "I talked to Janet yesterday, and it seems that her daughter is still looking for her husband."

"Mother, please let's not have this conversation again." Daniel rolled his eyes not wanting to talk about getting married with his parents every day.

"Son, I just want you to find a girl and be happy, I won't be around forever." She caressed his cheek

Daniel took his mother's hand. "Mother, I am happy and I will find a lovely girl, I promise." he couldn't help but to smile at his lovely mother.

"Daniel, don't forget you helping the Queen with her riding today." Richard reminded.

"Yes father, I am to assist her and Snow together." Daniel stated to his father.

"No, I will help with the princess, focus on the Queen today." Richard demanded him. "I don't want her to think…"

Daniel cut his father off to argue, "Father I can handle both, as far as I know the Queen is a good rider with a great horse as well as our princess." Daniel informed his father knowing the abilities of Snow.

"I understand that son, but just for today let me watch over the princess, while you can get to know her abilities."

"Yes." Daniel easily gave into his father's demands, he really didn't have a problem spending one on one time with his new Queen. "But we better get going." He said finishing his eggs.

"You're right. Darling thank you for this," Richard kissed his wife's forehead.


Regina and Snow walked down to the stables together. It took Regina nearly an hour to look presentable for Daniel. Daniel was fastening Rocinante's saddle in the open. Regina walked up to Rocinante to pet her nose.

"Where is Isabella?" Snow asked Daniel.

"She is with my father; you are going riding with him today."

"I can't ride with you?" Snow questioned being disappointed in the change.

"I don't see why that is a problem." Regina commented suggested trying to please her new step daughter.

"I'm fine with that, but if you can tell my father." Daniel stated to Regina, who could tell his father what to do.

"Yeah, that will be fine," Regina smiled walking over to the stables to find Richard. "Richard?" She questioned walking into the building.

"Yes your Majesty?" Richard asked walking Isabella out of her stall.

"Daniel will be giving Snow her lesson today," She commanded. "I'm sure you more important things to do than to watch over our riding skills." She smiled trying to be calm and nice about the change.

Richard bowed to his queen, "Yes your Majesty."

Regina didn't realize how easy getting a yes out of Richard was, "Thank you, I'll take her to Snow." She pointed out Isabella. Richard handed the reins over to her. She headed back to Snow and Daniel. "Simple enough."

"Thank you Regina." Snow smiled giving her a hug, "You're the best."

"It's no problem Snow. So?" She turned to Daniel, "What do you have plan for me today."

"Well we were thinking about going on a trail." Snow informed.

"Oh yea?"

"What do you think?" Snow looked at Regina pleading to go and do something different than to ride circles in the field.

"Why not?" Regina shrugged her shoulders.

"Okay then let's do it." Daniel replied smiled at the girls, and helped the girls on to their horses. They waited on him to get a horse, and he led the way.


Regina loved the trail; however she didn't like riding side-saddle. There was a tension between Regina and Daniel that was becoming quite obvious to them. "So," Regina laughed out ending the awkward silence "Saw you earlier yesterday, jumping horses."

"Yes, I was."

"That looks like fun."

"It is."

"Can you teach me?" Regina questioned him.

"I would love to but what would our king say about his queen learning how to jump a horse. Proper ladies just ride with the saddle or in their carriage."

"I'm not as proper as everyone wants me to be." She confessed to him.

Daniel smiled, "Okay, we can do it."

"Thank you." Regina looked forward watching Snow riding in front of them, "How are you doing up there Snow?"

"This is so much fun, thank you for letting us do this." Snow smiled.


The three finally made it back to the stables. Daniel helped Regina off Rocinante. Regina's hands were on both of Daniel's shoulders, as Daniel's hands were under her armpits to lift her down. Their eyes locked, they both felt home.

"Well my Queen," Daniel started releasing one of his hands to scratch the goose bumps on the back of his neck, "you seem to be a fine rider."

"Thank you, we will have to do this trail again." Regina informed.

"Next time we should go up to the lake." Snow made her way over to the two.

"Lake?" Regina finally took her hands off of Daniel's broad shoulders.

"Yes, there is a lake back there it's near firefly hill." Snow smiled.

"Regina and Snow." Cora stated coming closer to the three. "Where have you been? You two have guests coming and you need to get ready for supper."

"I'm sorry my lady we went on a trail." Daniel started to apologize on their lateness.

Cora put her hand up, "I'm not interested, just do your job and take care of these horses." Cora snapped at Daniel.

Cora made Regina and Snow walked back to the palace with her. Regina turned her head and watched Daniel walk the horses back in the stables.


Regina was in her chamber getting dressed for dinner. Cora walked into the chamber. She saw Regina standing in her undergarments as her lady's maid was tightening her corset. "Leave us." Cora snapped. Regina's maid bowed to Cora leaving Regina's chamber.

Cora began to tighten Regina's corset tighter than normal. "I want you to stop talking with that stable hand."

"His name is Daniel, and that is going to be hard to do I have another lesson with him next week." Regina informed her mother.

Cora turned Regina around to have her look at her, "What do you think you are doing?"

"Nothing, he is a nice boy to talk to."

"Who is beneath you." Cora hissed at Regina.

Regina didn't like hearing Cora insult the one person she has gotten along with since she has moved into the palace. "Mother, I'm not going to have this conversation with you. I have to get ready so you can either help me get dressed or get out." Words escaped Regina's mouth before she could think. This was the first time she told her mother what to do in a harsh tone. She starred at Cora trying to figure out what she was going to do.

"Okay." Cora stated handing Regina her dress.


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