Very few people knew that the Evil Queen had made an attempt on her own life, although part accidental.

Even less knew that the first time such thoughts entered the Queens mind was the morning after her own wedding. Once Leopold had woken, he had unceremoniously gotten up, shuffled on his breeches and left the room. The reality of her situation crashed on the new bride who, could not get away from the bed fast enough. In her panic she tried to run off the bed but only ended up in a tangled mess of limbs and sheets on the floor at the bottom of it. The cool of the tile beneath her was like a douse of cold water. She prayed and she cried, for herself, for Daniel, for a future that would never be, for the reality she was shackled to. After a while her eyes focused on the balcony and a desperate thought floated over her eyes but a faint sound of crying reached her ear. Perplexed Regina stood shakily and slipped on a robe, tightening the chord about her; she followed the sound until she reached her wardrobe. Slowly she opened it to a peek and became dumbstruck.

In there sat a girl no more than four holding a crying Baby. There girl was staring at her with big blue eyes and long brown hair, she sat in a pool of broken glass looking frightened and panicked. In a daze Regina reached and took the baby from her hand and slowly began soothing the child, the baby's cry's turned to whimpers and slowly the child opened its eyes. Regina felt captivated, never had she seen such blue eyes in her life, they were deep blue like the night sky during a full moon, the babes eyelids hid the blue orbs as she fell asleep. Regina turned to the other blue eyed child and held out her hand. "It's alright I promise not to hurt you" the child looked unsure but after a few moments grasped Regina's arms and allowed herself to be lifted from the pile of broken mirror shards. Regina would clean that later, a gift from her mother she cared not for and was glad to be rid of.

"What were you doing in the closet sweetie" she sits on a chair, holding the sleeping baby and the child stands before her.

The girl looks afraid still but less panicked "princess Snow said I must come and get her crown she left here, but I heard you coming so, so I hid" and she is now blubbering and sniffling and Regina is now afraid what trauma the child has suffered due to what she witnessed the night before "and then there was screaming and banging and light came from the mirror when it broke and sleeping baby was with me" and now Regina understands that the babe was cursed into the mirror, a magic mirror her mother no doubt wanted to spy on her with. She gets and places the child on the bed after ripping all the sheets off, surrounding the sleeping babe with as many pillows as she can. Then she turns and picks up the quirky crying child "I'm sorry so sorry" the little girls says over and over again and Regina hushes the child saying she is not to worry and that all will be well, the king will never be told "I'm sorry I didn't help you" the child whispers once among other apologies and Regina holds the child tighter and begins to hum the song her beloved nurse (Nina) used to sing to her, until the girl calms.

Regina takes her to the vanity, sits with the child on her lap and grabs one of the many combs she has been gifted, this one decorated with tiny roses and gently combing the girls long tresses "what's your name?" the girl is hiccupping but she is done crying "Ruby but everyone call me red, I like red better, mama likes Ruby" Regina nods "well Ruby can you tell me your mama and papa's names? I'm sure their worried" and the child looks her with questioning eyes through her mirror "you're not mad?" and Regina promises that she isn't "I just think your parents want you back dear" Ruby gets quite "papa's gone, to the stars. He would have helped you fight the monster" her voice is barely above a whisper and Regina thinks of her own father and remembers a time when he was her world, when he used to fight her monsters. Too bad he never fought her mother.

Regina braids the girl's hair and places the hair comb within the twists; she thinks back to her own nightmares and remembers something that she had brought with her. The only remembrance of her Nina, she slowly stands with the girl and walks toward the wardrobe. Opening it once more, she lift opens a chest and takes out a stuffed Red dragon before going to the bed and sitting on the edge. "You know Ruby I don't need protection from monsters because I always had Snortle here with me" Ruby reaches tentatively for the red dragon feeling the soft material "Is Snortle the reason your ok today" and Regina wants to laugh for she's not ok, not ok at all but all she does is nod "I fought my monster" Liar a voice taunts in Regina's head "That's why I want you to have him, he'll protect you," Regina promises and the girl looks at Regina somewhat doubtfully.

"What's your mama's name Ruby" and the girl is examining the toy as she answers "her names Anita, she works in the kitchens with Granny her name is Gemma" and Regina goes to the door and commands one of the guards to send for the two ladies in pretense of needing help to get ready. She checks on the sleeping babe before looking at Ruby who still looks too sad for a child by Regina's standards. So Regina grabs the dragon and makes him dance, narrating a story of the dragon who could not breathe fire which made him sad, about his bravery and saving the princess who became his rider and Ruby looks entranced and giggle when Snortle tickles her. The tale ends with Ruby clutching the toy to her chest and looking over the babe with inquisitive eye "She needs one" Ruby states pointing at Snortle and Regina promises to have one made for "but not red" Ruby insists and Regina agrees "One blue" she suggest instead. A blue dragon for the babe with blue eyes and brown curls, she looks to be around one maybe two no more Regina is sure.

A knock startles them both.

Regina answers and it's the women from last night alongside another who has red puffy eyes, oh how the mother must have worried. She ushers them inside and watches with what vigor the mother clutches the young girl to herself and feels anguish at the fact that her mother never did such, she will for hers, she swears then. It's Gemma who notices the babe and looks shocked and its Ruby who tells them "She came from the mirror, in the Queens closet" and they all go to examine the shards of glass that litter her closet floor but find no explanation. "what will you do your grace" Anita asks looking at the babe and Regina can't help but go to the little girl who has captured her with one look and brush aside its curl "oh no girl, do not even tempt the idea" Gemma states seeing the adoring look on the girl's face "you'll have your own children soon" she tries to sooth but it backfires.

Tears appear in Regina's eyes "No I won't, he doesn't want that, said so last night" and the king had, pulled out in the last minute and finished on her stomach "can't have that now can we" he had slurred "Snow, my only heir" he had slurred more before passing out on top of her. "you'll keep her" Regina says looking up to Anita who looks bewildered but Regina is sure, she will have a daughter, "I'll pay for her expenses myself, you'll be my lady in waiting and we shall say she belonged to your…cousins who passed away in child birth leaving you the child" and she is going too fast for the other two ladies and while Gemma looks unsure Anita seems to accept the idea "You'll have the Queens protection" Regina promises "The king will not agree to this and the child what if she has parents?" Anita says but its Gemma who shakes her head "Look at her cloth, people stopped dressing babies like that decades ago, this child has been in that mirror for a long time, and her parents are more likely long gone"

"The king will be no problem either, I shall speak with him, Snow will be a mother one day and needs to see how to take care of a child. Besides she will need to know how to lead by example, how better to do that then have friends who are younger and will naturally look up to her" and Anita can see the girl has skills in diplomacy as well as reading people, knows already that the king will not refuse anything that might help Snow. Yet she is still too young, too young to be a wife, too young to be a mother "How old are you, your highness" and the Queen answers naturally "I'll be eighteen in three month, and my name is Regina" she's too young, Anita thinks, but she is already in the midst of it all and Anita knows firsthand what joy children may be. "mama look at my dragon his name is Snortle, he is going to protect me since papa cant" and both mother and Grandmother sit and listen transfixed as Ruby retells the tale, the little girl who has not talked once about her father since he has passed, now speaks as though the dragon is to be the messenger between the two. Anita pulls her girl into a tight embrace as she continues with her tale, yes this 17-year-old Queen is too young, but Anita shall happily serve her as long as she helps keep this smile on her daughters face.

Never Ending Forrest Years Later:

"Regina, Regina, wake up child its time t get ready for the ball"

Regina groans at the shaking of her shoulder, she blinks twice before slowly sitting up. A paper sticks to her cheek and her neck hurts alongside her head. Morgana reaches over and peels the paper off of her, looking at the names on it before glancing at the papers strewn about the library's table, list after list adorn them "is this it?" Morgana asks inquisitively and Regina nods and looks at the picture before her, Like ants the names of people adorn the papers scattered about "you should send me home" she whispers and Morgana studies her "you wish to go home?" Regina does not answer her "you should send me home, I know the story of the goddess, she deserves better than me as her representative" and Regina believes that. Morgana takes the papers and begins to shuffle them, organizing them, some are more crinkled than others, some have tears, and some are half torn "that's neither for me nor for you to decide, but you missed a name"

Regina looks at the Morgana with confusion "you forgot to add your own name" and Regina snorts and lets her head fall to the table but Morgana is undeterred and will be heard "Regina, all these people, you hurt yes that is undisputable. But you left pain as you entered and exited their lives; you have consistently wronged yourself by holding on to your anger picking at your own wound, never letting it heal keeping yourself in a constant state of pain, you have wronged yourself the most, the others were undeserving of the wrong you did them, most of them. But you wronged yourself the most."

The words echo in her head over and over as she is dragged to get ready. The bath does little to sooth her, but by the time she has been perfumed and made up, waiting in her robe she is nervous for a different reason entirely, she will dance with her archer tonight. She feels giddy and filled with butterflies and no matter how her mind reminds her that he deserves better she still wants to see him, to get to know him. Morgana enters with her dress "Navy blue for the night sky where the stars dwell" the dress is velvet with a deep back and cling to her just so, the skirt is not too big and she feels half exposed, even though she has more scandalous dresses in her own wardrobe. The dress has a belt encrusted with jewels but beside that it's quite simple. They have twisted her hair in a low bun with a few strands running free and swishing against her bare back.

"Relax" Morgana squeezes her hand as they are walking to the ballroom "there are other people there who are not the suitors and their numbers have been reduced to twenty, there are other ladies and gentlemen there" and Regina nods; she knows this, she does yet the butterflies do not sit still "Keep conversations brief unless you are considering them for your top ten and for spirits sake do not spend the entire evening with the archer" and Regina wants to deny the accusation but she cannot, so she says nothing instead.

They arrive to a pair of massive doors and Regina can hear music and chatter on the other side, she feels panic rise. But before she can run the doors open and it's a blur. People approach one after another, greeting after greeting and Regina fears her hand will go numb from all the shaking and kissing, when it time to open the dance. She peeks at her dance card and has to control her urge to glare at Morgana, the archer is her last partner and she knows this due to the hand drawn arrow next to number twenty. She must endure twenty dance partners before she can get to the archer and she is angry until guilt takes over. For these twenty men all want to meet her and she owes them at least a chance, she wants to pull her card as queen but here, she is just Regina. So instead she approaches her first partner, the winner of yesterdays challenge and begins the dance.

She doesn't like one, he's a brute. His eyes gleam and his attire is impeccable but he speaks of conquest after conquest of war and she supposes that if she had not gone to war herself she would find his stories adventuress, except she has so it does not regale her as this suitor hopes and after the dance Regina realizes the reason she dislike him is that he reminds her too much of herself.

Two steps on her foot constantly and asks her generic things, while three is utterly drunk and spends the entire dance beginning sentences only to blubber the ending, he has to be helped off the dance floor. Four starts out roughly asking her question after question, but halfway through the dance he apologizes for his nerves and they end up having a pleasant conversation about horses, he specializes in them. Five has wooden peck for his left leg and tells her a tale of the sea, his story is interesting and his voice soothing and she enthralled.

A short break commences with her mingling with one through five but minus three who is asleep in a corner and back to dancing she goes. The pattern is similar six and seven are kind and well mannered eight is a narcissist to the core. Nine spends the dance speaking of another woman and ten turns out to be a masterful dancer.

Another break, then dinner and Morgana pulls her aside and tell her she is doing well but Regina is losing patience and she has not caught glimpse of the archer and wants it to be over. Morgana hands her a small glass of wine "we don't want a repeat of your third suitor" and Regina sees some of the suitors she has danced with begin to leave.

Eleven is young, tells her of mother he ran from and the adventures he had since, Regina tells her of the sorrow she felt losing her child and godchild and he has tear in his time by the time the song ends. Twelve recites her poetry while thirteen and fourteen speak of vast lands and people under their command.

Fifteen begs her to release him.

He has come by the order of the lord of the land, who has threaten his family unless he makes it to the top twenty, he has, but he wants to go home. He speaks of a dearly loved wife and three children, two boys and one girl and asks to go home. He is a small trader.

Regina nearly breaks

During the break she goes to Morgana, asks for his release and also asks for Morgana to send protection against the land lord with the man as well as gifts; she will re-compensate the priestess she promises but Morgana smiles and says there is no need and promises the man will be on his way in the morning. Regina tells him the news and the man kneels before her and brings her hand to his forehead thanking her again and again and again until she bids him farewell with a soft smile.

Where nine spoke of another woman sixteen speaks of another man. Seventeen tells her of weapons he makes while eighteen speaks only of glasses pointing out small details of the works about the room. Nineteen is well on his way to joining three but where three was a happy drunk, nineteen is a mean one and handles her roughly, she has a small flash to her late husband. It's when his hand about her waist start to slip down that she tries to get him off but before she has the chance her archer is there.

"I believe the song has ended" he holds the man's wrist tightly in his own, the man sways a bit before leaving away, bumping into the archers shoulder "I'm sorry for that milady" he offers and Regina can't help but smile "It alright I have handled worst" music start, they bow and then she's in his arm "I'm sorry to hear that, but the evening is almost over, only me you have to endure and then you are free. Can't imagine the horrors you've had to face so far" and Regina can't help but chuckle "well, it wasn't all bad. I enjoyed myself at times' and Robin nods "well milady I can't ask for your name but perhaps you can tell me of yourself what do you like to do" and Regina is sure there is no faster way to get him leaves than say she hunts young girls, so she says "I'm in a managing position" his eyebrows raise "What of you, archer" his lips quirk at her nickname "I am a philanthropist of sorts, a very bad one but I try just the same" and he looks sheepish.

They fall into a comfortable silence "I am sure you tired of hearing this milady but you look utterly breath taking tonight" and Regina actually blushes like a little girl "Thank you for the kind word but you are the first to say so" and she is stammering and he looks truly shocked. She changes the topic

"Tell me archer if you had the power, what would you do, to help the people" and he speaks of plans, schools and lower taxation and the abolishment of surfs, he speaks with passion and a true heart. When Regina points out flaws or gives suggestions he listens and adds his own or else argues with her and she comes to realize she would absolutely love to spend hours debating with him. But it all comes crashing when he gives examples from different lands, "The Evil Queen for example she rules with an iron fists, but she doesn't stand for baseless cruelty. She has abolished surfs in her land and has an eye on the lords and minor Royals. They are too busy dealing with her to bother the lower class, the lower class in her land are doing pretty well, so long as they steer clear of the princess"

Regina can't help but swallow "have you met her?" and the archer shakes his head "No though I have traveled through there and I can say her knights are not too fond of me" he jests and Regina tries to smile when the song ends. Before they can part Morgana is there "Good sir, its late and the Goddess must retire, your action in the last event were noble and note worthy and so would you be so kind as to escort the lady to her chambers" and Regina wants to be happy she does but all she feels is sorrow and shame as he says yes and offer her his arm.

Warmth spreads within her at the contact and Regina focuses just on that as they exit. They walk for a while when he speaks "I have upset you lady" and Regina is startled to see his blue eyes stare down on her with utter concern. She tries to smile; she does, but all it comes is a sad grimace which he catches "milady what is it?" they have stopped walking and Regina wants to make an excuse but with those eyes on her she cannot so instead she tries something new, she goes for complete truth.

"From the moment I met you in the first event I could tell that you are an honorable man. The way you questioned after the original winner, wanting to make sure you were not taking anything that didn't belong to you, the way you stood by your horse before getting aid for your own wound, the way you speak of your work, all this has reinforced my opinion that you are a good and honest man." The archer looks puzzled and there is a tint of color to his cheeks and Regina's heart flutter even more

"but all this has also reinforced my belief that you should pack your bags and leave, before I destroy you" she begins walking then trying to get away but the archer is only a step behind "milady I don't understand surely-" "I am a bad person archer, you spoke of the evil queen well she pales compared to me. I am a horrible person and you? You embody good archer, please leave, before I taint you" Tears are streaming down her eyes and she does not stop until the archer grabs her arm and stops her "Milady please, slow down" and Regina wants to disappear "Please listen to me" he is imploring her and she can't refuse, so she stop not quite meeting his eye.

He swallows twice before beginning "I I, I know not what you have done, and I find it hard to fathom that you surpass the Evil Queen" Regina wants to melt "but my lady I don't care" and Regina steps back in shock and her eyes snap to his "I don't, milady. The anguish on your face" he brings up a hand and wipes away her tears with his thumb "your words earlier, your actions for the two men, you have a heart lady and if you want me to believe that's it blackened and dark I will. But you have a heart that feels, deeply I'll wager, which means that you have a conscious. Whatever you have done, you can redeem yourself" Regina shakes her head "mine is too dark" she whispers but he grasps her hand and entwines his fingers with hers.

"Mine is not that bright either lady, I too have done bad things, things that make me feel ashamed and unworthy of being in your presence" he takes a step forward and searches her gaze intensely "such feelings had me thinking of leaving after the first event; I was packing when the messenger arrived" Regina is rooted to her spot "why made you stay" she can't help but ask

"You"

The answer is utterly simply and so loaded as well "I mean not, to be presumptuous but when I saw you there I was transfixed and when you took the arrow from me and your fingers brushed with mine I, it will sound insane milady but I swear I felt-" "a spark" Regina finishes in a whisper. She can't look away and if his intense gaze in any indication neither can he.

This can't be true Regina thinks "this is-" "insane" he offers and she nods "mad" "lunacy" he is closer and she is not sure whether he is moving or her, she doesn't care "impossible" she offers "unfeasible" he conquers and his breath whispers onto her lips, "bonkers", "foolish" her eyes slip closed and they are a hair span apart; when Regina tilts her head down and bumps her forehead against his

"we can't, I promised"

He nods and exhales pulling back, mindful of their masks "I know" he grabs both her hands in this "tell me that you would not mind it if I was to come out as the hunter and I promise you I will put my heart and soul into the competitions and try with my whole being to win this hunt for you" Regina opens her mouth before she sighs and squeezes his hand "leave, save yourself, please" she tries one last time and he huffs "are you asking me to leave because you do not wish me to be the hunter?" and she should lie but those eyes won't let her and so she shakes her head "then there is no way I'm leaving" he promises and Regina looks up from their clasped hands she has been honest so far "there is no other man I would like to be the hunter to my goddess than you" and he smiles the biggest smile she has ever seen "then this I vow milady, that I will do everything within my power to win, so long as it's fair play"

And no matter how much Regina knows she should warn him off and tell him to leave she can't do anything but smile. They walk the rest of the way in comfortable silence, when they reach her door. He pauses and pulls out the dragon medallion from beneath his tunic "I wore it today for good luck, I have never felt luckier than I do at this moment" and Regina can't help but smile "every time it moves I think of you, do you spare me a thought lady" he is being playful and Regina plays coy

"A thought or two of you fleet about my mind occasionally, I have nothing to remind you of me" he moves closer and she moves back until her back hits the door to her chamber "is that so, the lack of a reminder is the problem?" he places his right palm on the door next to her head and she nods cheekily "alas it is" and the archers smile is wide as he grabs her right hand and lifts it. Just when Regina thinks he will kiss her knuckles he flips her hand and places a lingering kiss on the inside of her wrist while keeping his eyes locked on her "whenever you feel you heartbeat think of me lady" he whispers against her wrist, his breath and stubbles ghosting over her skin and she feels heat pool low within her abdomen. He then placed a kiss in her palm "and whenever you do think of me lady, place your hand upon your heart so I may think that I have touched your heart, like you have touched mine" he brings her hand and places it on her frantic heart "then you have inkling of how often and how much I think of you lady" and Regina, who has never liked such thought, scoffed at others who have spoken so, feels herself melt.

"Goodnight Archer" she can't manage anything above a whisper

"Goodnight my Goddess"

AN: Hello lovely reader, fist I have to apologies; I left you all without an update for a few days and it was due to this plot bunny that decided to attack me, until I wrote it down which took a couple of days my apologies, that has been dealt with I promise and you all can expect regular updates.

To the lovely, lovely reviewers, I adore you all you have no idea how giddy a notification makes me, someone asked about the hunt and the hunt is next chapter, with the *ahem* you know, the chapter after that. I will give you all a warning now, I have never written an m-rated scene before, so please bare with me and again open to suggestions, seriously never ever written one before.

To the lovely Guest(s?), who art's thou, are the same one as before? I swear your comment had me smiling like a mad person. I absolutely love your reviews; if you are two separate guests I love you both. You had a few questions and I'll try to answer them all, yes this before Marian and Robin have gotten together and believe it or not Marian is partly being a bitch stem from Robin and Regina meeting here, here's a hint: Marian has been mentioned in our never ending forest story line. The Merry Men are facing a divide now (Notice how john is not mentioned yet) and as for the potion I have to say congratulation because you have guessed part of the next chapter. And as for the cloak I was going to do something else, but I like your suggestion better, look for it in the coming chapters. And please review I love to hear what you think.

I'm trying to portray Regina at the vulnerable time of her life, is it coming across as that or is she too OC? I would love to hear everyone thoughts really open to suggestion, comment Constructive criticism, as always ONCE is not mine and thanks for reading