Much like the last chapter, this one is just a transition chapter. just something that leads on in to the next phase of the story. I will hopefully be posting the next chapter tomorrow but we will see what happens as I have gotten sick and behind schedule. Next chapter will be David and Regina meeting once again!

It had taken David a full three days of travel to get to where he was then, walking alongside the stream toward the farmhouse. He was travel weary but so excited to see Regina and hopeful that she had found a little bit of peace and a little bit of purpose.

He didn't know what he was going to find, he could only hope that it would be good.

But his blood ran ice cold when he neared the tree line and the sound of screaming children cut through his thoughts on what the afternoon would bring. In an instant, his head snapped up to the sound that came from the farm and dread crawled through his skin.

However, that cold terror over Regina hurting children was soon met with confusion when just a moment later, the screams were followed with hysterical laughter. It took time for his heart rate to settle back down but the laughter kept him from pushing his horse in to a gallop and instead he merely continued to walk toward the tree line.

He stopped at the edge, being sure to keep himself hidden from view as he watched what took place before him, afraid to disturb the scene in front of his very eyes, soaking up the chance to see the queen when she thought no one was watching. It was her, still in peasant clothes, laughing with the child in her arms she must have caught and was now swinging her up and around in a circle as the young girl threw her head back against Regina's shoulder and laughed hysterically.

It was a baffling sight but it had him smiling in amusement despite himself. And then there was a young boy running at her from behind after she had stopped and while the dark green fabric of her skirt twirled around her legs, he jumped on her back and wrapped his arms around her neck.

David could hear her shout in surprise at the boy's audacity to do such a thing but even from where he stood in the shadows of the trees, David could tell she was simply playing and that there wasn't so much of a hint of her usual malice. But he still could not believe what he was seeing. The Evil Queen playing. With children. And it looked so natural. It looked as though it was what she had been born to do, that having children hanging off of her was what she was built for. Never mind the villages she had had slaughtered.

It had his heart leaping for her even more than before as he let himself relax in his saddle and watch her. And when a third child made themselves known with a roar of laughter that nearly had her slipping from Rocinante's bare back, David couldn't help but laugh with them under his breath. This was the last thing he expected to find upon his return.

The very last thing. But it was better than anything he could have imagined. He didn't know where the children had come from but it didn't matter. He simply watched, so happy that it nearly brought tears to his eyes. For the queen was happy. Finally happy. In that moment. Despite it all, despite everything she had lived through, there she was. Laughing and playing as though she didn't know that any darkness existed in the world. It was beautiful.

And while he had planned to go and see her, to stay with her for a few days, he could not bring himself to disrupt such a perfect sight. He would let her have just a little more time. More time to be happy and carefree without the reminder of himself and their unfortunate history. He would let her be happy just a little longer.

So he watched for a while longer and then turned around and began the journey back to the castle. He would come back again soon enough though, of that he was certain. But for now his mind was at ease and he carried a smile on his face and that was all he needed for now.

Three Days Later

"Snow," David called as he walked in the room and her head snapped around to the sound of his voice.

"Hmm? David? What are you doing back so soon? I thought you were staying with Regina. Did something happen? Is she still there?"

"No, no, everything is fine. I just want to show you something," he told her with a small smile as he walked toward her with a mirror in his hands. Even though their honeymoon had been wonderful and a pleasant distraction, Snow had been noticeably tense since the wedding. Since Regina's threat to destroy her happiness. She was stressed and rather high strung despite putting on a good face for everyone including himself. She was having a hard time sleeping through the night and kept staring out windows expecting to see Regina's magic rolling over the hills.

But after seeing Regina, he felt much calmer over Regina's intentions. In fact, there wasn't so much as an inkling of a worry anymore. He could only hope Snow would soon feel the same. But even if she didn't, at the very least she would finally get to see what she had wanted to see in her stepmother since before David had met her.

"What is that? Why have you taken the mirror from my study?" Snow laughed with a curious furrow of her brow at the mirror in David's care.

"I took a bit of a detour on my way back here and struck a deal with Regina's man in the mirror."

"...A deal?"

"Well...more of an agreement really," David shrugged as he nodded his head toward the bed in a gesture for Snow to sit as he did. And once she walked over and sat beside him, David continued, "the point is, I have something to show you. Something that will bring you peace of mind," he told her and she frowned at him, entirely unsure of where he was taking the conversation. But it didn't matter. She would know in a matter of moments.

"Mirror," David called and slowly the face of Regina's man in the mirrors came in to view.

"Shepherd," the mirror greeted and then glanced at the woman sitting at his side and dipped his head, "princess."

"Why are you here? Why are you coming when David-?"

"Snow, that's not what matters," David interrupted kindly and Snow fell back in to silence as he looked back at the mirror, "please show her. As we discussed," David instructed and with one final bow of his head, the man in the mirror disappeared. And then in his place, the image of the queen came to view.

Just as the sight of Regina made his heart skip and ache to be with her, a quiet gasp of disbelief was pulled in to Snow's lips as she leaned in closer to the mirror.

Regina was smiling. But not only was she smiling, she was laughing. A beautiful and joyous sound that filled the room and quickly brought tears to Snow's eyes. Regina was dancing with a little girl, the same young blonde David had seen her with just days ago. She was holding both her hands as they skipped in circles and Regina twirled her under her arm. And then not only was there laughter but the words of a song began to form, a commoner's melody that was sung at festivals and the likes. The words were interrupted with happy laughter but the song could not go unnoticed.

Snow could not remember the last time she saw Regina smile and she knew for certain she had never once seen her so truly happy. Never had she seen her dance with such joy or laugh with such honesty. Never had she seen her so light on her feet or play with such enthusiasm.

Taking the hand away from her mouth, Snow reached over and gently took the large mirror from David's lap so she could bring it in front of herself. She could not pull her eyes away. She couldn't even quite understand what she was seeing. Regina happy? It was unheard of. It had been nothing more than a pipe dream. And yet there in front of her very eyes, the queen herself sang and danced and laughed in the company of a child.

"David," Snow whimpered as the young girl was scooped up in to Regina's arms with a shrill laugh as the woman covered her neck with playful kisses only to make the girl laugh more. It was an infectious laugh that had Regina laughing even more and the sight and sound had Snow breaking in to joyful sobs as she brought a hand to her mouth once more. But she could not look away from the woman being reflected in the mirror.

It was all she had ever wanted, all she had ever hoped for. She had never thought it possible but there it was in front of her very eyes. Regina, happy. Happier than she had ever seen her. Living in peasant clothes on the farm David had left her to procure. A haven for Regina. Even if it was only temporary, it showed that there were options. Better options, happier options, healthier options than living alone in that miserable Dark Palace for the rest of her days. And it proved to everyone, even Regina herself, that there was still happiness in the world for the Evil Queen.

"David," she cried again and his hand rubbed her back as he pressed a kiss to her temple. "Look at what you've done," she breathed as Regina released the girl so she could run off toward the call of her name from another child. Even without the immediate company of the girl, Regina's smile did not disappear. Her dark eyes were filled with warm life and the smile on her mouth still creased the corners of her eyes as Snow's tears dropped on to the mirror's glass. She had no words to express the relief and utter joy over what she was seeing. Her heart felt like it was going to burst in her chest and her gratitude toward David was entirely immeasurable. Completely and entirely.

And then at the call of 'Miss Regina' from a young boy out of view, Snow burst in to laughter through her tears. For Regina smiled bright once more and, without a moment's hesitation, followed the voice with a skip in her step. "Look at her," she laughed as her tears blurred her vision and the mirror followed Regina to show her lifting the youngest girl on to Rocinante's back alongside what Snow could only assume to be her brother and sister. Snow had not realized Regina even still had that beloved old mare, she hadn't seen her in so long she was left to assume she had passed away. But there the mare stood with her smiling queen and a back full of children. It was an image of absolute perfection and it was one Snow would forever treasure, "David," she cried softly and then burst in to teary laughter, "she is so happy."

And she was happy. Far happier than either one had ever seen her. And while Snow cried, David felt more sick over it than ever before. For he wanted nothing more than to be at Regina's side at that very moment. Laughing and dancing with her, sending children off to play with the horses so they could be alone and he could show her how much he loved her. And show her just how sorry he was for leaving her.