OK, introductory chapters are done; time for some more bonding chapters. You'll understand why they're important later.

9 Months Prior

Dark Palace, Enchanted Forest

After spending almost three months in the Enchanted Forest at least Rachel had started to feel at home. In a way it was like living in one of her own stories; she got to wear clothes that would be considered costumes back on Earth, she got to go horse riding every day, was able to wield magic and had started to become quite adept with the sword. Of course there were days when she wanted nothing but to go back home and live a normal life, but those were becoming fewer and fewer. Deep inside she knew that one day this would all end; she and the others would have to go back to Earth and live their ordinary lives, but at least that day had not come yet, and until it did she intended to live her life to the fullest in the Enchanted Forest.

Despite the threat of the Wicked Witch and the constant fear of her return they had managed to make a home for themselves in the Dark Palace. All of them, including those that had been rescued on the road by Snow White and Prince Charming, or David – Charming was the nickname Snow had given him during their first meeting and it had sort of stuck. No wonder, considering he was always a gentleman. She knew some of the others got a bit annoyed with his ways and preferred the cheeky glint in the eyes of Robin Hood to David's manners, but personally she preferred the company of the Prince. The outlaw also did not seem to enjoy her company too much, unlike how he enjoyed that of Chris and Tessa and Jade; something that might have to do with her mentioning at one point that archery was cheating since you did not have to face your opponent while killing or disarming them. It was not that he hated her, but in a way she guessed she had valued his skills as less important than for example David's.

The sun was shining when she headed out to the stables this morning and it made her hum some silly little tune while grooming the brown mare that she was set to ride.

"Oh, I didn't see you there."

Rachel looked up from grooming the mare's legs to find David standing outside the stall.

"Good morning to you too", she said and straightened. She thought he would be smiling at her like he always did when they met, or whenever he met anyone in the castle, but instead he was frowning.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, frowning as well.

"No, of course not", David responded and managed a hint of a smile.

"That frown says something else", she remarked, "but if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. It's not my job to pry."

David smiled once more and turned to walk away, but stopped and turned back.

"Are you about to go on a ride?" he asked.

"Yes, it's a lovely morning for one."

"Would you mind having some company?"

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. That was not a question she had expected to ever get from Prince Charming.

"No, not at all", she eventually answered.

They prepared their horses in silence and left the castle in the same manner. With every step the horses took Rachel found herself wondering why he had asked to come with her; it was not like they had spoken much in the castle or in any way acted unlike anything but allies in this dire situation. Had it been just because of that she happened to be in the stables when he arrived?

"So", she said when the silence had been pressing on for far too long, "is everything alright, sir?"

"Why are you addressing me in that way?" David asked with a frown.

"Well, you are a prince", Rachel pointed out. "There must be some sort of formal title that I absolutely must add to everything I say in order not to anger you... sir."

David smiled in amusement and shook his head.

"I wasn't always a prince", he said and looked forward. "In fact I have been a prince for a shorter time of my life than I have been anything else."

"That's a story I'd like to hear."

David smiled again.

"I was born as a twin in a very poor family", he begun. "After my birth Rumplestiltskin, the Dark One, came to my parents and said that they would be paid handsomely if they allowed one of us to be raised as the son of a barren king and queen. My parents accepted the deal and sent my twin brother, James. I stayed with my parents and was raised as a shepherd. In fact I did not even know I had a brother until I was already and adult and Rumplestiltskin came back to ask me to take his place as a prince."

"I can honestly say I did not expect that", Rachel admitted. "So you took your brother's place? Was that how you met Snow White?"

"Yes, but our story is quite long and complicated", David answered. "I was set to marry the daughter of King Midas when she robbed my carriage and, while trying to get the stolen goods back, I fell in love with her."

"To be honest that story is way more interesting than the one told back home about you two", Rachel said with a smile, "but maybe that's just me."

"What about you, then?" David asked and looked at her. "What were you doing before you found yourself tangled up in all of this?"

"I was a teacher", Sandra answered, "and a writer, though I haven't published any books yet. It's how I keep my sanity; I write down all of these crazy stories flying around in my head in order to be able to focus."

"Considering how well you work with horses I am also going to guess you're a rider", David said as they exited the forest they had previously been riding in. "Would you like to try and beat me?"

"You mean that we should race? Now?"

David smiled, before he turned his horse and with a sharp call and a press of his legs against the horse's sides caused it to break into a gallop.

"You bloody cheater!" Rachel yelled, before following suit. Her brown mare rushed forward and she kept her head down, her eyes watering from the speed. They closed in on David's white horse and, after calling out to her animal once again, found herself racing next to him. He grinned and urged his horse to go faster, but she kept up with him. The trees on the other side of the field approached fast and Rachel found herself wondering where their race should end. It was certainly not wise to continue through the forest at this speed; the horses could easily stumble and injure themselves. Thus the closer they came to the trees the more she straightened up and slowed her horse, allowing David to take the lead once again. He pulled his own horse to a trot and then to a stop right before the tree line, turning around to face her.

"You could have won", he remarked.

"Well, I didn't know where the race would end, and I certainly was not going to go galloping through the forest", she responded. He considered her response for a few moments before he nodded.

"You're right", he said and patted his horse on the neck. "I should not have acted so... irrationally."

"To be honest you looked like you needed it", Rachel answered. "Are you sure you're alright?"

David hesitated before he nodded.

"Yes, I'm..."

He fell silent again and his eyes became distant, looking in the direction of the castle.

"I don't know", he eventually responded. "I received some news this morning that should have made me happy, but instead... I don't know."

"That still does not explain why you wanted to come with me", Rachel pointed out.

"Well, no, it does not. In fact I do not know the answer to that myself."

She studied him in silence for a while. It was the first time she had seen him this conflicted, as if he wanted to tell her something but was not sure if he should or could.

"David", she said, using his first name for the first time, "I know we don't really know each other and that we probably look at things differently, but if you ever need someone to talk to, or take a ride with, or whatever it is you want to do, I'm here. Alright?"

He met her gaze once more and, for the first time that day, there was relief visible in those blue eyes of his.

"Thank you", he said and gave her a genuine smile. "We should probably head back; the others must be wondering where we are."

They let the horses walk back to the castle, but this time the silence between them was comfortable.

"Snow's pregnant", David said when they were grooming the horses. Rachel was about to express how happy she was for the two of them when she caught the look in his eyes.

"That was why you needed to leave, wasn't it?" she asked instead.

"Yeah."

She studied him as he once more focused on his horse.

"Well, like I said before; I'm here if you ever feel the need to talk, or just hang out."

"I appreciate that, Rachel. I really do."