David braced himself for what would surely be a very emotional conversation. "Okay. What do you want to talk about?"

Regina thought for a second about how she wanted to approach this conversation. "Choose me. Please, choose me."

David let out a long sigh. Not prepared for such a blunt statement, he stood up abruptly from his spot on the bed, and turned toward the window. Before he could walk away, Regina grabbed his hand and he turned his head slightly to look down at her.

"I know that you and Snow are married and that you love her…but, I also know that you love me, too. And I have no right to ask you this, but I am going to anyways. I love you too much to not even try."

"David, I want to be a good person. I want to show you that I can change. I love you, and I will do anything to be deserving of your love."

This plea broke his heart. He knew that she had suffered from years of loneliness and personal trauma. He also felt a surge of renewed hope. For what seemed like forever, Snow and him wanted her to want to change. They didn't need her to be perfect, but they wanted her to try.

He sat back down on the bed and took her hand in his, placing his hands on her face and using his thumb to softly stroke the outline of her cheeks. He tilted her forehead towards his slightly to where only there foreheads were touching. There was a long pause while he contemplated what he should say. There were too may thoughts going through his head at once. The anxiety built up in him, to where he could no longer think about anything rationally. Throwing logic out the window, he gently moved his chin towards her lips. He was tired of thinking and analyzing the logistics of their relationship. Instead, David chose to do what felt right to him, natural. He continued moving his lips towards hers, but made a slight pause before they touched. Then, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, and retracted. She returned the kiss with a soft kiss of her own. The kiss became deeper and he used the tip of his tongue to taste her. After several more moments, he pulled-away and stared down at his lap for a while, contemplating what he should do next.

"Let me talk to Snow," he whispered.

"Really?" she exclaimed. The smile that spread across her face was the most beautiful, enchanting image that he had ever laid eyes upon.

He returned a bittersweet smile of his own. David felt relieved that he had finally accepted that he wanted her. However, despite 28 years of separation, Snow was his wife and he loved her. He didn't want to hurt her. Now, instead of returning home to her as promised, he would be returning only to tell her that he wanted to be with Regina. He knew that it was not going to go well, with Snow or with the townspeople.

"Regina, I love you. I know that you are not the same person as you were in the Enchanted Forest. But…you have to promise me that you will try." He raised his voice slightly. "That means no more secrets, and no more manipulations. I don't expect you to be perfect, but you have to learn to control yourself."

"What if I fail…" She was so happy that David was giving her another chance. But she really wondered if she would be able to make it. It had been a long time since she had been living without any secrets.

"Then, I will help you. But I can't help you unless you're willing to help yourself first."

"You would do that? You would be willing to help me, even if I mess up?"

"Yes. Because I do love you."

"I promise that I will try, David." She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck breathing in his scent. He put her arms around her waist and he placed a kiss on her soft hair.

—-

Regina had fallen asleep again. After her breathing became steady and David knew she was in a deep sleep, he wrote her a note and left it on her bedside table, explaining his absence and the location of a gun in case she needed it.

He made sure the entire house was completely secure, before he got into his truck and left. He need to talk to Snow. David had no idea how to explain any of this to her, but he knew that it would be better for everyone to do it now, than to wait in a long, drawn out process.

David knocked on the door to Snow's apartment, and when Snow opened the door, she jumped into his arms. "I'm so happy that you're back, David." David didn't say anything, but gave her a small smile to acknowledge her happiness. Snow immediately had a sinking feeling in her stomach, sensing David's body as tense and a little rigid.

"David, what's wrong? Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, yeah…I'm fine," he choked out nervously. "I was actually hoping that we could talk."

Snow closed her eyes shut, and she could feel her heart beating inside her chest. She had a sensation of instant regret, because she knew what he was about to say. The princess knew that she should have insisted that her prince return home, instead of caring for the Evil Queen. It didn't matter how inured or broken she was, Regina was still the most manipulative woman in any land.

Still, with a sliver of hope, she let David continue as if nothing was abnormal. "Sure, sure. Of course. Is Regina, okay?"

David was unsure of what to say to that. Physically, she was stable and getting better. Emotionally, she was still a bit of a train wreck. "Well…no, not really. Physically she is okay, but she still has a lot of trauma that she needs to work through."

Snow thought that the conversation was improving. Perhaps, the prince had no intention of ending their relationship, tonight. She was praying this was not the direction it was headed.

"I understand. Regina is strong though. She has been through worse, and has still made it."

Snow continued. "Are you planning on checking on her anymore today?"

David glanced at the ground and began. "Yes. That's what I wanted to talk to you about, actually."

This was it. Snow could tell by his nervous posture and slight fidgeting that he was anxious about talking to her.

She didn't want to repel David, so she started out in a very calm and even voice. "David, before you begin, I think I know what you're going to say." She paused before she spoke again, "Please…please think about this a while longer. I am you wife…and she, she is the Evil Queen."

David let out a frustrated sigh, but let he continue.

"Do you even remember anything that she has done to us? Our daughter has been an orphan for the past 28 years, because of a curse that she placed on the entire realm. She has tried to kill both of us multiple times. She has tortured and murdered possibly thousands of innocent people. How can you possibly forgive her for all of that and tell me that you love her?"

"I can't explain it Snow. I can't let go of my feelings for her. And seeing her the past few days has changed me. You're right. She has done some terrible things…things that I still can't forgive or forget. But seeing her the past few days, so vulnerable…it has consumed me. And us…you are my beautiful wife. I love you so much. But, it has been 28 years. And even though time has stood still here in Storybrooke, I can't help but feel distant from you."

Snow was too hurt to continue this conversation. She didn't have enough energy to fight him. "So…you choose her."

David, not wanting to dance around the situation just replied with a soft, "Yes."

Snow let a stray tear fall down her cheek. David moved to comfort her, but she pushed her hand out in front of her, signaling to him to keep his distance. "David…please. I think I just want to be alone right now."

'"Okay. I'll go," he spoke again softly. David stood up and slowly made his way towards the door. He put his hand on the door knob to her apartment, but before he opened it, he paused, asking himself if he was making the right decision. There were so many reasons for him to change his mind. In the end though, his heart was telling him to go find Regina. He then opened the doorknob, and walked out of the apartment.

As he walked out of the apartment, he made a silent prayer that Regina would change and that she would try her best to stop using magic and to be a good person. He did not make his decision to choose Regina lightly. Snow was a good person and it killed him to do this to her.