I hope you enjoyed this chapter.


Daniel and Richard arrived at their place his mother making dinner with a fellow girl from the village.

"Patricia, what is going on?" Richard asked giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"I was getting food today in the village and I ran into Melody, and I invited her to dinner." She explained to her husband, "Maybe she can get to know Daniel. She is such a sweet girl."

Daniel overheard them talking, "Mother, I'm going to get washed up. Father?" Daniel asked his father if he was going to with him.

"Yes, I shall be back and no longer smelling." Richard smiled at his wife with such love in his eyes.

Richard joined Daniel outside to clean off. "Daniel, I know your mother is coming off hopeful; just give Melody a chance."

"Father, I have plans tonight with a girl to go to the tavern." Daniel confessed to his father, needing the evening to speed up.

"Daniel you know how those tavern girls are, you are just going to bed her."

"She is not a tavern girl, and I want to show her some fun, and I really like her." He was trying to be honest about his feelings to his father.

"Who is she?"

"I'm not saying anything that you can repeat to her mother." Daniel trying not to say, that he has plans with the queen/ family employer.

"Daniel, please just try to please your mother, she is just worried that you won't find happiness with someone like her and I share, and if you really don't like Melody, you still have this girl that you won't tell us about." Richard was trying to please his son and his wife at the same time.

Daniel and Richard walked back into the cottage. The table was being set up by Melody, strawberry blonde, blue eyes, fair skin. She looked at Daniel with a smile. She was kind of adorable, "Here let me help you."

Daniel had a nice dinner with the family, and a nice conversation with Melody. She was sweet and seemed to have a few interests in common with him. She could be a very suitable companion for him, but Regina was perfect for him.


Regina managed to sneak away. She took one of her maid's clothes. Daniel liked the simple look that she had, instead of her dressed in her queen clothes. They walked closer together, Daniel bowed to her, "My queen, you look lovely this evening."

"Please I am not the queen tonight," She stated, and her eyes had a plea, "Just let me be Regina."

Daniel looked in her eyes and smirked, "Of course, Regina are ready for tonight?"

Regina smiled at him, "Absolutely."

"Well follow me." Daniel stated.

They walked to the tavern in the night air, and had a great talk with each other. They walked into the full tavern. Daniel pulled out a chair for Regina, and waved for two lagers. Daniel sat across from her, handing her the beer he ordered. "Careful they are a tad strong."

Regina took a gulp of the beer; it was great to have something else besides wine. "This is great. So Daniel," she place the mug down and touched his hand. He looked at her, "Why aren't you married?" She wanted to know why; the great man sitting in front of her was available.

"Because Daniel here is a hopeless romantic, and has this girl envisioned that he is going to spend the rest of his life with, but on his quest for this girl, he is going to bed beautiful girls." Lance one of Daniel's companions sat down and join in the conversation.

"Gina, this is Lance please ignore his stupidity. Lance this is Gina she is staying with her aunt for a couple of months in the palace." Daniel came up with a small story on the spot for the tavern, to help with his queen.

"Can you tell us, who your dream girl is?" She asked needing to know his ideal girl.

Daniel smirked at Regina. He looked up and then took a deep breath before he started, "She is the fairest in all the land, with the dark hair and her beautiful brown eyes to match. She has an adorable nose to go along with everything. Her personality is one of a kind. She is smart and can have great conversations with me. She is strong, and it shows in her exterior, but once you see her perfect smile you know it's her defense for people not to see how kind and sweet she really is." Daniel was smiling talking about the girl who is sitting right in front of him, "She is probably taking, and I can see why." Regina wanted to kiss Daniel at that very moment, but there were people around.

"I'm telling you bud need you settle with one of these fine ladies here. Like Krista over there has had her eyes you for a while."

Daniel didn't like the conversation that was going on. "Lance we have a lady in our presence."

Lance looked over to Regina and apologize, "I am sorry."


Regina and Daniel were having a grand time together and in the tavern. Regina had the best time has had in many years. Daniel enjoyed the smile that wasn't leaving Regina's face.

"Daniel, where have you been?" Krista questioned handing the third round of beers to the table.

"I've been quite busy," Daniel explained to the green-eyed, brunette.

"Aw that's terrible, that new queen needs to loosen up on you." Krista stated wrapping her arm him.

Daniel looked at Regina and then towards Krista, "She isn't really that bad. In fact she is very sweet."

"Really, that is not what I heard. I heard she threaten to send mother to prison. How sweet is that?" Krista stated.

"I agree, I don't think she was the best choice for a queen. I don't get why Leopold married again. He should have waited for Snow to take over." Lance agreed with Krista.

Daniel could see Regina's heart breaking that her kingdom doesn't like her, "Well maybe she can give us a Prince? That would be nice." Daniel suggested.

"Maybe, but she isn't going to compare to Queen Eva." Krista stated.

"Excuse me," Regina left the table to walk outside.


Daniel went after her, "Regina." He called out catching up to her walk back to the palace.

"Daniel please just go back in." Regina commanded, wiping away a tear falling away from her eye.

Daniel caught up to her and stood in front of her to have her stop. "No, I can't do that can you talk to me."

"No matter I do please the kingdom and the king; I will always be compared to Eva. No one can see me as me; I will never be good enough for anyone." Regina told Daniel her problem. He is the first person she has found she can completely trust.

Daniel hated seeing tears in Regina's face. "I don't want you to be her," Daniel informed stepping closer to her. He brushed her tears away and pulled her closer to him. Their eyes and lips were magnetics pulling closer and closer together, "I want you to be the amazing person that you are."

Their lips met for the first time, to start a soft kiss. They slowly parted each other's lips with their tongues. They researched each other's mouths, feeling complete.

Regina didn't want this moment to end, but she was married. She was married to the king and the consequences could be death if they go down the road they want. She broke the kissing into his eyes. "Daniel, I… we can't."

Daniel brushed her hair out of her face and behind her ear, "I understand, I just want you know I do care for you and I'm willing to take the consequences, if you are."

Regina thought why did he have to be perfect for her, and married someone who doesn't care for her. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and he watched her walk away.


I hope you enjoyed. Please review and tell me how you feel