"Mother, what is going on?" Zelena demanded to know as she stormed into large bedroom.

The house had been quiet as she led Regina inside. No-one had met them as Regina walked them up to her bedroom and after she lay down on the bed, Zelena had pulled a blanket over her to keep her warm as she fell asleep. Following her magical senses, she had tracked her mother down and was ready to discover the truth.

"Please don't raise your voice to me, it isn't very ladylike."

"What the hell did you do to the stable boy?"

"Language!" Cora admonished her, turning away from a mirror to face her eldest daughter.

Zelena automatically apologised, feeling like a scolded child, but faced her mother determined to get an answer.

"What did Regina tell you?"

"That you used magic to take his heart and kill him. Did you?"

"Yes."

Zelena once again that evening found herself shocked. She hadn't even unpacked her things and she was being surprised over and over again. Her mother was speaking so casually about killing someone and her sister was hurting because of it.

"Why?"

"He was a threat to our plans darling. I had to stop him."

"There were other ways…"

"No, there weren't. Regina had it in her silly little head that they were in love. She was even going to run away with him." Cora pretended to look sad, as she explained: "the boy had convinced her that what they had was True Love, the most powerful love of all. I had to protect her. Taking his heart was the only way to prove that he was lying to her."

"I don't understand."

"If Daniel had been her True Love, she would have been able to restore his heart, or stop me from taking it in the first place. Men like that deserve to be stopped, daughter, for the pain and heartache they leave behind when their lies are discovered. I hope you never have to understand that kind of pain. Always remember, love is weakness. Only family truly deserve and return your love. No-one else."

Zelena refused to agree with her mother's methods. "Killing him went too far."

"Anything else and Regina wouldn't have listened to me. She would have waited and found a way to go with him." Shaking her head as if to clear those thoughts, Cora stepped towards Zelena and put a hand on her shoulder, directing her to the staircase. "Enough of that, it is now in the past. I wanted to welcome you to your new home."

Zelena looked around at the portraits hanging at the top of the stairs, at the rich carpets on the floors, "it is lovely, mother."

"You're to have the room next to Regina's, I thought you'd like that. Then in the morning we'll all have breakfast together and you can meet Henry."

"Regina's father? He knows about me?"

Cora nodded, as she led Zelena to her new room. "I explained things to him while you were out with Regina."

"How long will I be staying for?"

"Silly girl, this is going to be your home now… At least until you become Queen, then you'll have to live in the palace."

"Will you and Regina come to live with me there?" the thought of being alone, with no-one she knew, frightened her.

"If that is what you wish."

Zelena smiled and nodded. She recognised the door to Regina's room as her mother opened the one opposite. Her things had already been brought up and unpacked, except for the small travelling case she had instructed them was private. Cora didn't stay; she wished her elder daughter goodnight and closed the door behind her. After waiting a moment, to make sure Zelena was going to stay there, Cora headed across to Regina's room. She opened the door without knocking, not allowing her younger daughter any privacy after her foolish actions earlier that day.

Regina was lying on the bed, her eyes closed and a blanket draped over her. Cora knew she was awake. She could see the shallow breaths, as if her daughter knew she was there and was pretending to sleep.

"You cannot fool me," Cora warned her.

Slowly Regina opened her eyes and sat up, "sorry mother."

"How do you like your surprise?"

"Surprise?"

"Your sister, Zelena."

"It's true?"

"Yes," Cora smiled and moved closer, "she's your older sister."

"I thought she might be lying, or crazy… you've never mentioned her before."

"Well, it wasn't time for you to know about her. Her destiny required a quiet upbringing, somewhere that could prepare her for the future."

"What future?"

"Soon, my darling. I want you have a little time together, get to know each other first. After all, you are sisters."

Regina wanted answers, but she knew her mother would never give them to her. Her eyes ached from the tears she had cried, and that only reminded her about Daniel. She wanted to cry again.

"What do you want me to do?" she whispered.

They were back in the stables. Regina had regained her composure and Cora had warned Zelena not to mention Daniel. This time Regina was introducing her sister to the horses, explaining how to groom them and put a saddle on securely while Zelena listened patiently.

"And you ride them every day?" Zelena asked, standing so that Regina was between her and the large horses.

""When mother allows."

"I can't imagine how you even get up there, let alone hold on long enough to ride one."

Regina laughed, "it's easy, it just takes practice."

"I think I'll stick to riding in carriages."

"Well then, what do you like to do for fun?"

"Fun?" Zelena scrunched up her nose as she thought about it, "I spend time with my father, and I like to read about magic … the good kind - things which would help people. Some of the really old magical theories are so complicated I don't think anyone could ever perform the spells… I'm sorry, I know you don't like to talk about those things. How do you spend your time, other than riding? Do you have a tutor?"

"I used to, however I am now a companion for the Princess Snow White and help her."

"Snow White? I've heard that name before."

"Her mother passed away not long ago, and she is currently the only heir to the throne."

"And you have to help baby-sit her?"

Regina laughed again, "not exactly."

"Is she spoilt? Can she ride?"

"She's a princess, so she's used to having things her own way, and a teenager which means she's certain she should be treated like an adult. We often go out riding and she is improving."

They continued talking as Regina finished grooming the horses, the younger girl trying not to remember that this had been Daniel's job as she topped up their feed.