Regina was completely relieved when she felt Daniel pull back on the reins of the horse. "Woooah," he called out, bringing the beast to a stop. She felt completely drained, having gotten almost no sleep because of the nightmares of her mother that had tormented her the night before. A yawn escaped her lips as Daniel slid off the horse before her then swept her down immediately after, cradling her in his arms for a moment before planting a tender peck on her forehead.

"What's the occasion?" she asked, a hint of sarcasm hidden behind her sweet smile.

He tilted his head and looked at her quizzically, "What do you mean?"

She tangled her fingers in his and swung their hands playfully back and forth. "We're actually stopping!" she said with a hint of exasperation, "I feel like we have ridden for days!" she said, letting out a heavy sigh as she let her body collapse to the ground, finding comfort in the soft, lush grass. Tucking one hand behind her head and laying the other across her stomach, she took a deep breath in, enjoying the sweet fragrances of nature; and of freedom. The peace she felt in this moment was something she didn't think she had ever felt. Living under the constant scrutiny of her mother had worn on her more than she realized.

As she gazed into the pale blue sky, Daniel planted himself next to her propped up on his side and scooped her hand into his own, lacing their fingers together. Regina readjusted herself to rest her head in the crook of his arm that was holding his head, nestling herself comfortably against him. Her smile grew as she thought about what the future could hold for them; they had eternity in front of them, without anyone to stop them. They could go anywhere, do anything - and they would do it together. She held their hands up in the air above them, twiddling her fingers. She loved the way Daniel's ring looked on her hand, especially when it glistened in the sunlight.

"I'm sorry," he apologized, "I know it feels like forever, but we are almost there. I promise."

"Almost where?" she asked curiously as she looked into his eyes, unaware of the fact that he actually had a destination in mind.

Pulling her hand to his mouth, he gently kissed the palm of her hand, "We're almost to the town I grew up in," his eyes lit up at when he mentioned it, "The safest place I know."

Regina rolled to her side to bring herself eye level with him as a smile crossed her face, "Does this mean I get to meet your family?"

Daniel laughed, "Well, there's not much to my family, but you'll get to meet them, I suppose!" Regina felt so much happiness welling up inside her that she thought she might burst. She tackled him playfully which started a wrestling match between the two of them. Rolling over, tossed her leg over his waist and straddled him victoriously. She leaned down to him, slowly stroking his face with her smooth hands. Their lips met, and Daniel clasped her waist with his strong hands as the heat between them began to grow. Regina pulled away from him for a moment and shrugged her coat from her shoulders, tossing it aside. Reaching behind her head, she slowly untangled the piece of twine she had used to pull back her long, dark hair letting it fall down over her shoulders. Their lips met again, more amorous than before. Keeping one hand under his chin, she ran the other one down to unclasp the top button on his shirt.


Regina sat up, quickly weaving her hair into its usual braid as she readied herself for the rest of their journey. She was tying the twine tightly around the bottom of her braid when Daniel quickly swooped in and kissed her neck, and a girlish smile crept across her face. She looked up at him coyly as she twirled the end of her braid between her fingers.

"What?" he asked, returning her smile over his shoulder as he tossed the woven blanket across the horse's back.

"Nothing," she said quietly, then looked up to him again, "I'm just really lucky to have you."

"No," he extended his hand to help her stand, "I am lucky to have you." he stated matter-of-factly before he wrapped his hands around the back of her neck. He pulled in close to her, and tenderly kissed the tip of her nose; he seemed fond of small, loving gestures like this one. Lifting her chin with his index finger, he looked into her eyes, "I mean it," he said in a stern tone. "I know your mother has made you feel like you aren't worthy of anything but being a pawn in her games, but I am telling you," he purposefully took her face in his hands to keep her from avoiding his gaze, "You are worth more than the life I call my own. Do you think I didn't consider what may have happened to me if your mother were to find out about us? What she would do to me?" He gently stroked her cheek as a modest smile crossed his face, "I would gladly give my life if it meant that I could be with you for just a moment."

Tears had began to stream down her cheeks, but they weren't tears of sadness; they were tears of pure joy, something she had never felt in her life. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist again, clinging to him. "I love you so much, Daniel." loosening her grip, she looked at him again. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Well, my dear," he said, sweeping a loose hair from blocking her face, "You will never have to know what that feels like."