Reunited at Last Chapter 10: Getting Closer, an once upon a time fanfic

Chapter 10: Getting Closer

Regina arrived at her father's old estate. She paid a few servants to maintain it - she wasn't going to let such a beautiful manor house fall into dereliction just because they now resided at the Winter Palace. Most importantly, she wasn't going to let anything happen to the stables - the only reminder of Daniel she had left.

She urged Rocinante toward the stables and he followed the familiar path to his old home. Once they got there, Regina dismounted and led him inside. She removed his saddle and the saddle bag she had before brushing him. Once he was in his old stall, she made sure he had plenty of hay. "I'll be back soon, boy," she told him.

It felt strange to be back in her old house and she felt more like a ghost as she took in the spacious house that had always felt more like a prison. All her prisons had been gilded cages - beautiful to look at but hell to live in when one had no freedom. Her mother had been his first jailor, then her husband, and now Snow White. Regina had rid herself of the first two and was close to ridding herself of the third.

Her chance had fallen into her lap. Or rather, her trap. It had been meant for Snow but her prince was good enough for Regina. She locked him up in her dungeon and gave him a slow acting poison that would stop with a snap of her fingers. But Snow was going to have to finally face the consequences of her actions and take responsibility for everyone she had hurt over the years, not just Regina.

Leopold had coddled his only child and shielded her from many things. He wanted her to only know happiness and to never want for anything, no matter who was inconvenienced or worse along the way. Regina wondered how her stepdaughter had managed to live almost two years on the run in a world that was not carefully tailored to her. Perhaps it had finally taught her the humility her father refused to and made her realize that not everything was about her. And that her actions had consequences.

Regina supposed she would find out soon enough as she removed a purple velvet bag from her saddlebag. She checked that it still held what she needed to finally avenge Daniel and then tightened it again.

Snow was finally going to have to be selfless for the first time in her life. Leopold was not there to protect her anymore. And there was someone else relying on her to make the right decision now. If she really was the hero and good person she wanted everyone to think she was, she would do whatever it took to save her True Love.

And if she wouldn't take Regina's offer to save him, Regina was prepared to switch tactics. To play on Snow's vanity and desire to be seen as a good person, on how much the people loved her and how that would all go away if they knew she had the power to save the prince and didn't use it. She would paint such a dire picture - of isolation, condemnation and possible exile - that Regina's option would seem like her best one.

Either way, she would fall into Regina's trap and Regina would be done with Snow White for good at last.

Leaving the stables, she walked over to the fields she used to ride through with Daniel. A lump formed in her throat and she could almost see the two of them, side by side. She sat tall on Rocinante and he followed behind on Jerry, one of their other horses. Together they would gallop through the grass and let the wind whip past them, leaving all their cares and worries behind. Regina had been so much younger than - full of love and hope.

That Regina died with Daniel in the royal stables.

But soon, he would finally be avenged and maybe she could find peace at last.

Clutching her velvet bag tighter, Regina waited for Snow White to arrive so they could finally have their long-awaited reckoning.

"Hello, Regina," Dr. Hopper greeted warmly, holding open his door. "Come on in."

She stepped into his office as she thanked him. Taking a seat on his couch, she pulled her notebook from her bag and waited for him to take his chair across from her.

"So, how are you?" Dr. Hopper asked her once she was situated.

"I'm good," she replied happily. "And I mean it. I've just been very happy lately."

He paused, looking her over before smiling. "You look happy and seem more confident than you did when you first came to my office. It's quite amazing the difference a month can make."

She nodded before patting her notebook. "I didn't think this would help but it has. It's really helped me see things in a new light and find my inner confidence. When I started to focus on the positive, good things followed."

"I can see the change in you," Dr. Hopper said. "And I've heard about your growing business. Congratulations."

"Thank you," she replied, beaming. "And it's brought me friends. Actual friends. I'm working with Miriam Woods, who owns the Sherwood Cafe. And she knows Rob Locksley, who rescued me when I locked my keys in my car. I also met Reed Williams, Ian Little and Lan Hua on Halloween. We're all having a movie night soon."

He finished writing something down, nodding. "That sounds great, Regina. It looks like you're building Team You."

"Team What?" she asked, confused.

"Team You," he repeated. "It's that safety net I spoke about - the people you can turn to for help and to support you."

She smiled, deciding she liked that term. "Yes, I am building Team Me. And I'm building my bakery business and I'm going to get a business degree."

Dr. Hopper paused and looked up, smiling. "You are?"

"Yes. Lan works at Storybrooke University and she was able to help me apply there. I'm still waiting to hear back but she thinks I should get in and be approved for some financial assistance," she replied. "And I spoke with my manager at the cannery. He thinks they can help me too."

"I'm happy for you, Regina, and proud of you. You have certainly grown since you first walked through my door," Dr. Hopper told her. "You've laid a good foundation. And we're going to keep building on it until we can figure out why you may have blocked out being pregnant and giving birth."

"Of course," she said, almost embarrassed about how she had forgotten the original reason why she had sought Dr. Hopper's service in the first place. She had let her quest to find her baby fall by the wayside.

Though there had been that thought lingering at the back of her mind since Halloween and the incident with the mayor, the one that said that maybe the storybook was right after all. An idea that was moving closer and closer to the forefront of her thoughts - that maybe they were cursed after all.

Maybe Diana was her daughter and she didn't give her up but had her taken by a vengeful Snow White.

"I heard about Halloween," he then said. "Do you want to talk about what happened at the party?"

"Yeah, I think so," she replied, wondering how much she wanted to tell him. She decided to start with the facts, recounting everything that had happened with the mayor.

When she finished, he frowned. "Why do you think she attacked you like that?"

Regina played with a loose thread on her sweater's sleeve as she decided to take the next step. "I told you that my quest started because a gynecological exam revealed that I had been pregnant and given birth. But that was only half the story. I went to get that exam because Diana Nolan appeared on my doorstep almost two months ago and said that I was her real mother."

Dr. Hopper gave no reaction to that and she wondered if he just had a good poker face or if he possibly already knew. He then asked: "Why did she think that?"

Regina told him about the storybook and all the illustrations inside it. He wrote it down before asking: "And what did you think?"

She shrugged. "At first I thought she was pranking me. But she looked and sounded so earnest, I started to believe her. Well, believe that she wasn't a prankster that is."

Regina paused before continuing. "And then I recognized myself in her."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

"I saw a sad and lonely little girl looking for something to give her hope," she said softly, playing with a loose thread on her sweater. "And using fantasy to escape reality."

She paused for another moment, feeling a lump form in the back of her neck. As she tried to swallow past it, Pongo jumped onto the couch and curled next to her. He rested his head on her lap, offering her comfort. She started to stroke his soft fur as she controlled her emotions, remembering how lonely she had been and how much she had wanted someone to save her from it.

"Do you want to talk about those fantasies?" Dr. Hopper asked her softly.

For a moment, Regina wanted to say no. Her childhood fantasies had been hers alone - no one could take them away from her because she horded them like she was a dragon and they were her treasures. But she was older. She didn't need those fantasies anymore. And maybe it would be nice to talk about them at last.

"Well, the earliest fantasy I remember involved Mayor Blanchard and his wife," she admitted. "They didn't have Mayor Nolan yet and I remember people whispering about how it was a shame they hadn't had a child yet despite being married so long. People tended to overlook me and whisper about things they probably shouldn't have when I was younger."

She paused, giving Pongo another scratch behind his ear before continuing. "I thought that maybe if they couldn't have a child then they would come looking for one. And I was the only orphan in Storybrooke so they would choose me. That I would have parents and live in a nice house with horses and get to march in parades and everyone would stop seeing me as Cora Mills' daughter. I would be Regina Blanchard, the mayor's daughter.

"But then Eva Blanchard got pregnant and had Mayor Nolan and so that dream died," she said with a sigh. "No one wants to adopt someone else's reject when they have a child of their own."

"But it was still a realistic fantasy," Dr. Hopper replied. "You could've honestly been adopted."

She nodded. "I know. But after that, I really dove into fairy tales. Sister Trina and Sister Nova kept sneaking me books even though they knew Mother Superior wouldn't approve of them and I loved them. I used to pretend that my mother actually went to go find my real father or that she married a king and they would come to rescue me so we could be a family. And they'd take me away from Storybrooke, where I would have my own room, all the toys I wanted and so many friends."

"You wanted everything you didn't have," he said softly.

"Pretty much," she agreed. "Because I used to imagine my parents loved me and doted on me. That my mother baked cookies and helped me with my homework. And my father taught me to ride a bike. That we went on great vacations and had lots of fun together."

He nodded, taking down some notes. "And then what happened?"

"I realized no one was coming for me. Not my mother, not my father. I was nothing to them and so grew resentful before deciding I wouldn't give them any more space in my head," Regina replied.

She paused again, collecting herself before continuing. "I stopped believing in fairy tales. Fairy godmothers did not exist and were not going to come to give me a better life. The same with princes and knights-in-shining armor. When I left the convent to live on my own, I only took one book with me. The Adventures of Robin Hood."

"Robin Hood?" Dr. Hopper asked. "Why?"

"I don't even know, honestly. Maybe it was how he built his family, the Merry Men, around him and that he fought for the underdog. I guess some part of me hoped he would come, stand up for me against the town and then make me one of his Merry Men," Regina said. "Silly, I know."

He shook his head. "It's not silly at all. It sounds like you were always looking for a family, whether your blood family or a found family."

"Oh," she replied, surprised she hadn't figured that out before. "I guess I was."

"And now you have," he said.

She smiled, thinking about the small group of friends she had managed to gather around her. "I suppose I have."

He nodded before glancing at the clock. "We don't have much time so I'm going to bring you back to Halloween."

"Oh, right," she said, trying to remember where she had been in her story and how she wanted to proceed. "Well, before the character who looks like me became the mother of the character who looks like Diana, she was the Evil Queen from Snow White."

She explained that apparently the storybook continued past the True Love's Kiss shared between Snow White and her prince. In that part of the story, the Evil Queen somehow redeemed herself and became a hero, getting married and having the daughter who looked like Diana. Meanwhile, Snow White became the villain and she was the one who cast the curse Diana believed everyone was trapped in.

"So, all of that is to provide some background," she continued. "Miriam and I decided to dress up as two fairy tale queens. She was the Queen of Hearts and I was the Evil Queen."

"Like in the storybook?" he asked.

Regina nodded. "I was nervous because Mayor Nolan knew about Diana's theory and I worried she would feel I was either throwing it in her face or signaling that I believed the theory but she didn't seem angry."

"How did she seem?"

"She seemed…" Regina paused, replaying her first conversation with the mayor in her mind. She recalled how nervous she had been that the mayor was going to be upset. But the mayor didn't seem to mind, though she was smirking almost the entire time.

Furrowing her brows, she said: "She seemed to know I was scared of her and enjoyed it."

Dr. Hopper paused before looking up from his pad, his eyes wide. "She enjoyed it? Are you sure?"

"I wasn't in her head but that smirk just tells me that she was enjoying having that power over me," she said, thinking of her past with the mayor. After talking with her new friends and thinking over past interactions, she was starting to believe that Mayor Nolan did consider herself better than Regina and actively worked to keep Regina down.

But she wasn't ready to discuss that aloud with Dr. Hopper just yet. Not until she had some concrete examples and it didn't just sound like paranoia and bitterness.

So she moved on, explaining how she and Miriam had made candied apples as treats for the children and how the mayor started to yell at her, almost attacking her as well. Regina took a deep breath. "I know it sounds crazy, but it was almost as if she really was Snow White and she truly believed I was the Evil Queen who was about to poison all the children."

Dr. Hopper paused, frowning. "Do you think she believes Diana's theory is true?"

"I don't know," Regina replied, though she suspected that if Diana's theory was true then the Mayor knew it.

He nodded before asking: "Do you believe her theory is true?"

"Of course not," she said, almost automatically. As much as she was coming to trust Dr. Hopper, she knew saying she believed she was the Evil Queen and they were all cursed fairy tale characters guaranteed her a trip to the psych ward. So even if she was starting to believe that Diana could be right, she wasn't going to tell anyone else but the young girl.

"Well, it looks like our time is up," he said. "Maybe we can continue unpacking what happened with the mayor on Halloween next time."

She frowned. "Is there more to unpack?"

"I think so," he replied. "That's why I want to continue in your next session. Same time next week?"

"That's fine," she said, standing and tucking her notebook back into her bag. Looking up, she shook Archie's hand. "Thank you."

He smiled. "You're welcome, Regina. I'm glad we're making progress, even if it may not be the progress you wanted just yet."

She nodded before leaving his office. Exiting onto the sidewalk, she took a deep breath of fresh air and checked her watch. She decided to head toward Granny's, where she would meet up with her newfound Team Her for a nice lunch. There was a bounce in her step and she felt lighter than she had in years.

Cursed or not, she was happy and she was going to enjoy it.

"I don't like this," Grumpy said, watching Snow White with concern in his eyes. "You have to know it's a trap."

Beside him, Doc nodded. "It's too dangerous for you to go alone. At least let one of us go with you."

"They are right," Red said, standing from the table. "Let me go with you. The two of us against the queen is a fairer fight than you alone against her."

Snow sighed, knowing they had good points. It was likely that she was walking into a trap and that she would not return if she didn't bring someone like Red with her to help fight the queen. But at the same time, she couldn't ask anyone else to put themselves in danger because of her. Too many people had died or been hurt because of that and now Charming could be next. She had lost too much and wasn't going to lose anymore.

"Snow," Red pleaded, waiting for her answer.

"I have to go alone," Snow told them. "That was Regina's only condition and so I am going to honor it. Otherwise, I would be just as duplicitous as her."

Grumpy shook his head. "No, it would make you dopey-er than Dopey."

"No one would think you are like the queen if you decide to bring one person or even an army with you," Doc assured her.

"We can absolutely raise one in a short period of time. People will gladly follow you," Grumpy told her. Snow knew that was true and that was why she had to insist no one else go with her. This was something she had to do on her own.

She shook her head. "Please respect my decision."

They looked at each other and Snow could see how helpless and hopeless they felt. She wished she knew what to say or do to help them feel better but she was at a loss. All she could do was hug each one of them goodbye.

Grumpy hugged her especially tight. "Please come back to us."

"I'll do my best," she said, knowing she couldn't promise him anything more.

She moved onto Red, who looked near tears. "You were my first real friend. You're my sister. I can't lose you," she cried.

"Oh, Red," Snow sighed, hugging her as tears filled her eyes. "I'll always be with you. No matter what happens."

"I love you, Snow," Red told her.

Tears rolled down Snow's cheeks. "I love you too."

She let go of Red, looking around at the dwarves. "I love all of you. Remember that."

Picking up her pack, she slung it over her shoulder and took one last look at her friends. "Goodbye."

It seemed hollow as her possible last words to them but it was all she could do. She left the house, tears running down her cheeks as she started on the path that would lead her back to the estate owned by Regina's family. The fact she had chosen that place told Snow White everything she needed to know about their meeting.

Regina was going to end their relationship where it began. Snow never would've pegged her stepmother to be so sentimental or symbolic. Who would've thought the Evil Queen could be poetic?

She left the woods and was out in the open. This was probably the most dangerous part of her journey. For all she knew, Regina had soldiers waiting for her. She was open for an ambush and only had a knife for protection. Reaching for her belt, Snow kept a hand on the hilt as she continued her walk, just in case Regina had only used the premise of meeting in person to discuss Charming's release to trick her into a vulnerable position, allowing for Regina to easily dispose of her at last.

And if that was the case, she was not going to go down without a fight. Not until she at least tried to save Charming. If she was going to die, she was going to make sure he lived. Then he could continue her work and restore peace and happiness to Mist Haven.

That was all she wanted in the end.

She walked down the road, prepared for a fight that wasn't coming. But she didn't relax even as she entered a flat and clear portion. While there weren't places for the guards to hide, she didn't put anything past Regina's magic. It made her even more dangerous and Snow White couldn't relax. Not until this was done and Regina was no longer a threat.

Even if she had to give her own life that day to assure that.

It would end now.

"I believe we've covered everything for today," Mary Margaret said, reviewing the agenda for the town council meeting. She looked up as she asked: "Any other business for us to discuss?"

Those around the circular conference room table exchanged uneasy looks. It was clear they wanted to say something but were too afraid to do so. Annoyed, she snapped: "What is it?"

"Madam Mayor, we've heard about your...outburst...at the Halloween party," Albert Spencer said. "And we're concerned."

She frowned, tensing up. The incident at the Halloween party was something she wanted to put behind her. It was bad enough that Diana regarded her suspiciously once more or that Dr. Hopper was convinced that it was about the stress Mary Margaret was under, that she needed to take a break. At least Ruby had managed to keep it out of the paper, though thanks to how fast gossip travelled, everyone in Storybrooke knew anyway. She hated that she was going to have to answer questions about it now, especially Albert Spencer. It puzzled her that he had gotten such a prominent spot on the town council given the animosity they shared back in their other lives. He should've been punished like Regina, not rewarded by continuing to be a thorn in her side.

Trying to stay calm, she asked: "Concerned about what?"

"Considering all the reports agree that you were not provoked, that you had the outburst in the first place," Spencer said.

She paused, knowing the time had come for the speech she had been practicing since Halloween. "I lost my temper for no reason and I have apologized to the Brunts for what happened," she said.

"While we're glad to hear that, we are still concerned, Madam Mayor," he replied. "You have been under a great deal of stress giving the situation with your husband and of course having to raise your daughter on your own now. Clearly, it's starting to affect you."

She tensed up, frowning. "I lost my temper once. It happens to everyone. I assure you that I've spoken with Dr. Hopper and the situation is under control."

"Does that include your clear disdain for Regina Mills?" Spencer asked.

"What?" she asked, almost barking the question as she glared at him. She wondered why he had asked that specific question and if it meant he knew more than he should.

He didn't back down as he replied: "Her proposal to open a bakery was actually very good. I do think she would've done a good job but you refused to be swayed and just denied it. And I think your mind was made up before she even presented anything to us."

She pressed her lips together, feeling itchy at her decisions being questioned. Forcing herself to continue staying calm, she explained her reasonings for denying Regina's request for a small business license. "While I want Storybrooke to have more businesses, I want to make sure they will succeed. It doesn't help anyone if we have businesses that fold quickly because their owners were just not fit to run them," she finished.

"Which makes a lot of sense," Eli LeBouff said, validating her viewpoint. At least her entire council wasn't against her.

Spencer, though, persisted. "I heard Deputy Nottingham tell someone at Granny's that he and Acting Sheriff Humbert were also given orders to drive by Regina's house and workplace and to follow her."

"I was protecting my daughter," Mary Margaret replied. "She and I had a fight and it's a long, complicated story but she ended up dragging Regina into it and I wanted to make sure Regina stayed out of our business."

This time, the rest of her council shifted uncomfortably and she knew she had lost them. Eli leaned closer to her. "While we understand the desire to protect your daughter, using the sheriff's office to do that against a citizen is...concerning."

She gaped at him. "It's Regina Mills."

"Who is still a citizen. And a good one too," Spencer said. "She's never been in trouble with the law and always pays her parking tickets, never contests them though I do think some of them should've been."

After a pointed look from him directed to her, he continued. "Always pays her rent. Goes to work, does a good job and has never been reprimanded from what I understand. And now she's running a popular service providing baked goods for people."

"I can't believe you are honestly defending Regina Mills," she told him, wondering if she had crossed into another realm.

He frowned. "Why?"

"Because she's Regina Mills," she repeated. "She's the town pariah."

"Why?" he asked.

She tried to keep her anger in check as she said: "Everyone knows why."

Or at least, they knew the reason she wanted them to think while she held onto the truth - Regina was just too dangerous to be around them.

"Nothing I've said makes her the town pariah. It makes her a good, upstanding citizen whose only sin it seems is being born to a woman who slept around and then abandoned her child," Spencer said. He then narrowed his eyes as he asked: "Unless there's more? Say, something about her father?"

That was the final straw for Mary Margaret. She banged her gavel. "This meeting is dismissed."

She didn't give time for them to object, gathering up her papers and rising from her chair. Without looking at them, she walked from the room and headed back to her office, stewing the entire time. Mary Margaret hated that she shared something in common with Regina but she couldn't deny that her former stepmother loved her father and had a close bond with him. The old man had even given up the comforts of the palace for her! It had made her envious that Regina still had her father and their relationship while hers was gone. So Mary Margaret had stolen Regina's in the curse and had denied her ever having a father again. The last thing she needed was anyone suggesting that maybe the Leopold Blanchard of this realm had fathered Regina and for Regina to come to steal another father from Mary Margaret.

"Madam Mayor?" Eli asked, knocking on her office door. "Can we talk for a bit?"

"I'm not in the mood, Eli," she replied, sitting down behind her desk.

He didn't leave. Instead, he closed the door behind him and stepped closer to her. "You may not be in the mood but we need to talk."

She scowled at him. "What is there to talk about? Spencer is just trying to get a raise out of me and is trying to sully my family's good name. The implication that my father could've cheated on my mother and fathered Regina...it's far more likely he's her father."

"Albert is pretty devoted to his wife. I doubt he would've stepped out on her," Eli mused before shaking his head. "But that's neither here nor there. Albert did bring up some other issues we need to discuss."

"About what?" she asked, unsure what he meant. They never had this conversation before and she felt lost.

Eli sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk. "You know I like to be honest with you, right? Especially when it comes to your re-election?"

She had to nod - Eli was always honest about that, even if the re-election never came due to the reset. But she had to play along and pretend that there would be an election the following year. After the past few months, it could be possible, she had to admit. "What about it?"

"I know this didn't make the papers but gossip travels quickly. I know you hope it will die down and I know that Albert may not be the best gage, but I don't think it's a stretch to think that others will make the same observations he did," Eli told her.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Even if the elections would never come, the gossip he was talking about certainly would. She wanted to be prepared for what she would be hearing until the reset when the New Year rolled around.

He sighed. "People are talking about what happened at the Halloween party and right now, they are saying it's out of character for you. But it's probably not long before they hear about you having the sheriffs tail Regina and then they will probably come up with more examples. It could transform into an uncharacteristic outburst to a pattern of harassment very quickly, Madam Mayor."

"Harassment is a strong word," she replied tersely. "I haven't harassed Regina Mills."

"You know that doesn't really matter in the court of public opinion. As long as people believe you're capable of doing it, then it's true," he told her.

She pressed her lips together, knowing that was true. "So what do you want me to do? Become Regina Mills' best friend?"

To her relief, Eli shook his head. "I would advise the following steps. First, you call off the sheriffs tailing her today. Second, you issue a statement apologizing to everyone at the party but naming Regina specifically. Third, try to at least be cordial to her if you run into her in public."

"I guess I could do all of that," Mary Margaret said, though she hated the idea of apologizing to Regina. She was the last person who deserved one.

Unfortunately, Mary Margaret was the only one who knew that.

"Good," he replied, clearly pleased. "And maybe in the future, try not to misuse the sheriff's department like that?"

"Misuse?" she snapped, angered. She was the mayor and could use whatever department she wanted however she saw fit.

He frowned. "You can't just have the sheriff tail someone because you don't like them, Regina. You know that."

"I was afraid Regina was a threat to my daughter," she replied.

"You can't have it both ways. You can't insist Regina Mills is a nobody and then insist that she's a danger to everyone," Eli told her. "And even if you did have concerns, we have ways to handle that. You can't just send the sheriff to spy on people. As I said, it sends the wrong message to the people of Storybrooke."

She tried not to huff. None of that mattered anyway. The curse would reset everything in a few months and they would go back to normal. She just had to hope things didn't deteriorate even more before they got to that point. And though she hated to admit it, that meant playing by the rules of this world's system of government.

Why couldn't she have cursed them to someplace with a monarchy?

"You're right," she said. "I'm sorry."

He nodded, seemingly pleased. "Well, just do what I suggested and you should be fine. This will all be forgotten in no time."

"That's good," she said, playing along. She knew it would all be forgotten and things would go back to normal. Mary Margaret just had to hang on for a couple more months. "Is there anything else?"

"Yes," Eli said, much to her annoyance. "Have you thought about taking a vacation?"

That was another new thing. No one had ever suggested she take a vacation before. "What?" she asked.

"Mary Margaret, you've had quite the year, especially with what happened to your husband. And you've done an admirable job of parenting Diana on your own while running the town," he replied. "But even amazing mayors like yourself deserve some time off. Time to rest, recharge and spend some time with your daughter."

"Oh," she replied. "I've never really thought about it."

He smiled. "Well, the holidays are coming. Everything slows down and almost nothing happens. It's the perfect time to just be Mary Margaret instead of Mayor Nolan."

She nodded. "I'll consider that. Thank you."

"Good," he said, standing. He said his goodbyes before leaving her office, closing her door behind him.

Mary Margaret leaned back in her chair, sighing. She had never taken time off before but this year was different. While she could leave town, Diana couldn't. So they were stuck in Storybrooke. But there was a nice lodge in the middle of the forest where they could go and spend a few days, maybe right before the New Year. That way when the curse reset everyone's memories, Diana was far away from Regina Mills and would hopefully forget all that nonsense. Everything would go back to normal and her life would be happy once more.

But there was plenty of time to plan a vacation. First, she needed to do some damage control and make sure people didn't continue to sympathize with Regina. That would only give her power and once she had power, everyone would be in danger. If she needed to swallow her pride and apologize to Regina to save everyone, then so be it.

She would not harm anyone in Storybrooke as long as Mary Margaret was around to protect them.

Regina hiked up her voluminous purple skirts and climbed the hill behind her father's estate. From the very top, she could see almost all of Mist Haven-including the dark spires against the bright blue sky that marked where she lived. And at her feet, a simple stone headstone marked where Daniel rested for eternity. Her heart broke once again to see it and she pressed her hand to her chest, tempted to take the traitorous organ from her body and lock it up in one of her many boxes.

No, she told herself. If you take out your heart, you won't be able to feel this victory. You must deal with the pain and remember it will all be over soon.

"Regina!" Snow's voice carried on the wind, sending a thrill through Regina. She smirked as the young woman continued: "I'm here, just like you asked."

Turning from Daniel's grave, Regina took a few steps until she could see her stepdaughter at the bottom of the hill. "No need to shout, dear. I'm right here," she said, smirking.

"Are you going to come down?" Snow called out.

"If I wanted to meet you down there, don't you think I would've already been at the bottom of the hill?" Regina asked her, annoyed. There was no response but she saw Snow start to walk up the hill. She watched, waiting to come face-to-face with her stepdaughter again.

Despite having watched her stepdaughter in her mirror, Regina was still surprised when she finally saw her face-to-face for the first time in over two years. Snow's look was certainly a far cry from when she was a pampered princess living in her father's palaces. Instead of layers of petticoats and skirts made of laces, silks or satins, she now wore a simple linen tunic lined with matted brown fur paired with matching breeches. She did not don dainty heeled shoes but sturdy black boots that were caked with mud and scuffed from trekking through the woods. Twigs and dirt were mixed in with her wild brown hair, no longer brushed and curled to perfection. Her face was covered with grime but she still held her head high, green eyes locked onto Regina as they burned with defiance.

"Where is he, Regina?" Snow asked, almost spitting out her name.

"Where all my prisoners are," she replied. "In my dungeons."

Snow frowned. "Then why did you have me come here?"

"Because this is where our story began," Regina answered. "And this is where it will end."

"So you're finally going to kill me," Snow said, resignation and bitterness in her voice.

Regina smirked, shaking her head. "Killing you is far better than you deserve. I'm going to make sure you are punished."

"For what?" Snow asked, confused.

"Do you remember before I married your father? When I told you about my plan to run away with Daniel?" Regina asked her.

Snow nodded before frowning. "Is all this because I didn't keep a secret when I was ten?"

"No," Regina replied. "It's about the consequences of you not keeping that secret and the innocent people you hurt along the way. One innocent person in particular. Daniel."

"Daniel?" she asked, surprised. "He ran away, leaving you alone. That's what you said."

"I lied," Regina said, her blood boiling as she cursed that decision. "He died. Mother came to the stables and found us. She took his heart and crushed it. He died in my arms and nothing, not even True Love's Kiss, could bring him back."

Snow stumbled back as if Regina had slapped her. The color drained from her face and she did look sick. It gave Regina a little comfort to know that Snow showed a little dismay and guilt at the revelation. But it wasn't enough to change her mind. She would follow through with her plan.

Composing herself, Snow asked her: "Why did you lie to me?"

The betrayal in her voice made Regina's skin crawl. How dare she try to play the victim? She was the farthest thing from it.

"To protect myself," she said, though it was a lie. Despite how hurt and angry she had been after finding out what Snow had done, her first instinct had still been to lie to make the girl feel better. But as she had played that moment over and over in her mind, she realized she had no other choice. "You would've gone to your father, who would not have been happy to learn his bride had planned to run away."

"So you also didn't want to be a family with us, did you?" Snow asked, as that was the worst thing a person could do to another.

As if no one would ever refuse to live with her and be her family.

"No," Regina told her. "I didn't. Your father was old enough to be mine and I was young enough to be your sister. I was not ready to be a mother. And I wasn't really allowed to be that. I was just meant to be your plaything, another doll for your collection."

"You were more than a doll. You were my teacher and the person I wanted to be most in the world," Snow replied, as if that was supposed to be some high honor.

It certainly wasn't.

Regina shook her head. "You will never be like me."

"No," Snow said, holding her head even higher with a defiant look in her eyes. "I never will because I will never punish the innocent."

"Innocent?" Regina scoffed. "You knew it was a secret. You knew I didn't want anyone else to know and yet you still told it."

"Because I thought you were being all romantic. I didn't realize there was actual danger involved!" Snow yelled, clearly ruffled.

Good.

"Of course not," Regina snapped. "You were a sheltered brat who believed everyone lived the enchanted life you did! You never saw the sacrifices everyone made to make sure you never went without even the smallest wish your heart desired."

Snow recoiled, frowning. "That's not true."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Tell me one thing you wanted that you didn't get."

"Well, there was...Umm…" Snow paused, looking deep in thought. Regina felt more triumphant with each passing moment of silence as the younger woman struggled to think of something-anything-she had been denied.

Snow finally held her head up a little too high as she said: "What does it matter if I can't remember being denied something? I might've forgotten it because it ultimately wasn't important."

It almost sounded plausible but Regina knew better. She crossed her arms as she said: "It matters because you were never denied something. You haven't forgotten anything."

"Well, it's not like my father hurt anyone in the process," Snow replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

Regina tensed at that, feeling phantom pain throughout her body. She wished she could shed her dress and show all the bruises Leopold left behind to Snow but she knew they had long faded. They only existed deep inside her now. He had been very careful not to leave any physical scars.

"Your father hurt many people," she said coldly. "You just never noticed."

Part of Regina knew it wasn't entirely Snow's fault. After all, Regina probably hadn't paid attention to the servants who worked in her father's house when she was a child. She probably wouldn't even had paid any mind to the servants in Leopold's palace had she not been worried about the spying he had done on her. As she watched them all carefully, she started to recognize those who shared some of the same signs she did after one of her punishments. The ones who walked slower and had difficulty bending or reaching. Ones who flinched at sudden movements or noises. Those who couldn't raise their eyes from the floor.

They were the lucky ones, though. Paying attention to the staff meant she knew when people were suddenly not there. Servants who were sympathetic to her and would try to help her would be replaced with those she knew reported to Leopold on her every moment. When the pony Leopold had purchased for Snow hadn't responded as quickly as he had wanted, the stable master was replaced. Regina had made the mistake of asking about him and had been coldly told it was none of her business. Between the warning in Leopold's tone and the red rimmed eyes of some servants, Regina knew not to press and figured it out by herself.

And Snow never knew.

Daddy's voice whispered that she could've known had Regina taken her under her wing as he had suggested. She could've gently pointed out everything to Snow and made her realize that her actions had consequences, let her mature into a young woman who cared about others and made her decisions carefully.

Leopold would've never allowed it, she reminded herself. He would've punished Regina for not just giving Snow everything she wanted and just kept spoiling his daughter.

Drastic measures were required and Regina was going to teach her the ultimate lesson in consequences.

"You take that back about my father!" Snow yelled. "He was a good king beloved by all. You're a mass murderer feared by all. You are not worthy to even mention him!"

"Your father was no saint," Regina snapped. "He just did his killing in secrecy."

The color drained from Snow's face but she kept her head high. "You killed him and now you slander him? How dare you!"

Anger and annoyance flared up in Regina. Snow would defend the father who doted on her and gave her everything her heart ever wanted to her last breath. It served no purpose to argue with her. Not when she had more important matters at hand.

She reached into her bag and her fingers closed around the apple inside. It was time.

Diana left the house, locking the door behind her. It was Mom's one obligatory Saturday workday and she had agreed not to send Lacey to watch Diana. She knew her mother was overcompensating after the incident on Halloween but she didn't care. With Lacey not around and Mom busy until at least four pm, that gave Diana plenty of freedom to visit with Regina, who was always off on Saturday.

Just as she had promised, Mom had dragged Diana to Dr. Hopper's last Saturday to discuss the incident on Halloween. She had tried to blame it on stress and concern for Diana after everything that happened the month before. Unfortunately, it seemed Dr. Hopper believed her though he made it clear to both of them that Mom alone was responsible for her reaction, not Diana or Regina. It meant that she still couldn't figure out if the therapist would be an ally or not and so she had to still be careful around him.

Which was another reason why she was glad for the chance to spend time with Regina. She wanted to know how her real mother was doing after the incident and hoped that she wasn't trying to just forget it ever happened like Diana's fake mother was doing.

(Diana was also eager to ask about her father but didn't think Regina realized who he was. She didn't want to influence her just yet, so as difficult as it was going to be, she couldn't mention him just yet.)

She turned down the alley that ran behind the library and smiled when she saw the back door was propped open, knowing it meant Regina was already inside. Diana slipped through the opening and entered the darkened library, following the one source of light - the office where Regina no doubt was working.

"Hi, Regina," she said, bounding into the office and taking off her backpack. She stopped in front of the desk, smiling at her real mother.

Regina looked up and smiled back. "Diana! What a pleasant surprise! I didn't think you would be able to get away from your mother after what happened."

"Yeah, well, she's trying to prove she's not Snow White and so she's loosened her grip for now," Diana said, rushing into Regina's arms once the woman stood and opened them. They hugged each other tightly and Diana drank in the warmth radiating off Regina as well as her familiar smell of vanilla.

"Well, I'm glad we get to spend some time together," Regina said, releasing her. She then pulled out a little container from her bag. "I was hoping you'd show up so I brought you this. Enjoy."

Diana gasped, opening the container to find a red velvet cupcake. She took it out as she grinned at Regina. "Thank you!"

She sat down across from Regina, eating the cupcake as she studied the woman. Regina had certainly changed in the few weeks Diana had known her. Back then, she had been beaten by life and seemed to have given up hope. She had kept her head down and tried to hide herself, even clothing-wise - she wore drab, shapeless outfits. Now she was happier, radiating with hope and more confidence, wearing more colorful clothes that fit her body type better. Her beauty - bother inner and outer - were really shining through now.

In short, Regina was looking more and more like the woman in the storybook - the beautiful, confident and compassionate Good Queen.

"Looks like you enjoyed that cupcake," Regina said, nodding to the crumb-filled but empty wrapper in front of Diana. She handed her a napkin.

Diana nodded, wiping her face. "And I enjoyed everything at the Halloween party too, even the candied apples."

Regina's smile faltered at the mention of the candied apples. "Thank you. I got a lot of business from that party. The holiday season is going to be very busy. Miriam said she'll help me, so that's good."

"That's great!" she said, happy for her real mother. She then asked: "How are you after Mom's outburst? That was scary."

"It was," Regina agreed. "But I've managed to shake it off. I surprisingly got a lot of support after that."

Diana felt better knowing the people of Storybrooke weren't just rallying around Mom because they always believed her. She was glad they saw Regina as the victim and were supporting her instead. It seemed like a promising sign that the curse's strength was weakening.

"I know you said your mom seems to be relaxing to compensate for the outburst but I just want to make sure everything else was okay for you," Regina said, eyes full of concern as she took Diana's hand.

"She was weird when I got home that night," Diana replied. "Dragged me to counseling the next day. Blamed the fact I think you're my real mom."

"What happened wasn't your fault," Regina assured her with more sincerity than Mom had managed.

Diana nodded. "And it wasn't your fault."

"Well, not entirely," Regina said. "My costume choice probably played a role in it."

She turned the storybook around to reveal the scene where the Evil Queen forced Snow White to eat the poisoned apple to save Charming. In the accompanying picture, the Queen wore the same outfit Regina had worn to the party. "I'm sure she had a flashback or something," she said.

"Yeah," Diana agreed before her mind processed the full meaning of Regina's words. She gasped, looking up at her. "Wait, do you believe me now?"

Regina sighed, pulling the book back toward her. "I'm not sure I am completely convinced but the mayor's outburst did seem more like Snow White than Mary Margaret Nolan."

"Her mask definitely slipped," Diana agreed, giddy that Regina was opening up to believing the curse.

"And if I was Snow White, I would be suspicious of the Evil Queen handing out apples," Regina replied, tapping the picture. She frowned. "I just can't believe I would do this."

"You're no longer that person," Diana reminded her. "You became good. Just keep reading. You'll see."

Regina nodded, closing the book. "Don't worry. I'm definitely hooked and won't stop until I reach the end."

"Good," Diana replied, pleased. She knew that now that Regina now suspected the truth about Storybrooke, the book would be more effective. By the time she was done, she would be ready to stop Snow White, break the curse and get her family back.

"Now, I have some exciting news to share," Regina said, leaning her arms on the book. Her brown eyes lit up and she looked absolutely giddy. "I'm going to college so I can get my degree and hopefully open my bakery!"

Diana gasped again, happy for Regina. "You are? That's great!"

Regina nodded. "I start next semester and will be mostly attending online so I'll need to get a computer. Thankfully, I'm making a lot of money with my baking so that shouldn't be a problem."

"I'm so happy for you!" Diana said, jumping up and hugging Regina.

When she pulled back, Regina rubbed her arms and smiled up at her. "I hope I can show you - and everyone else - that it's never too late for your dreams to come true."

"I have no doubt that you will," Diana replied, wondering if she was glimpsing the person Regina had been before the curse. "I think you're going to prove we all get happy endings if we work hard enough."

She hugged Regina again, knowing that she was going to have to leave soon. But for now, she basked in the warmth and joy emanating from her so she could store it up until the next time she could see Regina. It helped her get through her days living with Snow White, which hopefully were numbered.

Snow had never been angrier in her life. In a span of minutes, Regina had insulted both her and her father by insisting that she was a selfish brat spoiled by a murderous father. Her father had been nothing but loving and kind to his people. They had loved him and called him Leopold the Good while they feared Regina and called her the Evil Queen.

That said everything.

However, something did tug at her. Guilt filled her as she recalled a moment that had seemed insignificant when she was younger but now took on a new meaning. As she had started to transition from child to woman, she had tried her best to be more adult. She watched the women at the events she was allowed to attend and noticed that they all didn't eat much, including Regina. They made comments about not being terribly hungry or that they didn't need to eat much. Now, Snow knew it was because corsets were often laced so tight, swallowing was very uncomfortable if not impossible. She wasn't wearing a corset yet at that point and thought the women were being polite when they didn't like the food. And she became convinced that being a sophisticated woman meant having a very particular palette when it came to food.

Snow then started to limit how much she ate and started to use the same excuses the other women used. It concerned her father after a few weeks and he asked her one night if there was something wrong with the food. Believing she was acting like a grown up, she said the food was not worthy of a princess and he nodded solemnly. She believed she had given the right answer and was being seen as an adult. There was a distinct difference in the food after that and it took all of Snow's willpower not to devour it. Daddy kept asking her if the food was good and she kept responding that it wasn't, still believing she was acting like an adult.

That lasted for a couple weeks until Regina escorted her back to her rooms. While she often left with Snow, Regina usually parted from her when they arrived at the queen's chambers and Snow would go on with the guard alone. It was a surprise when she continued, dismissing the guard once they entered Snow's room. Johanna was waiting for them and she asked Snow to sit down. They asked Snow why she had become so particular about her food as of late and Snow told them the truth. Both went quiet and Regina had quickly excused herself. Johanna had helped Snow undress and explained why most women didn't eat much at such dinners. She also told Snow that being an adult didn't mean being particular about her food and asked that if she had a valid concern about one of her meals, she should tell Johanna. Johanna would then address it and therefore not bother her father, who had more important matters to handle as king.

Now she wondered if there was more to the story than she had known. Had her father kept dismissing chefs until she was satisfied? She felt awful to know people had likely lost their jobs because of her foolishness and misguided attempts to be an adult.

But like with Daniel's death, she hadn't meant to hurt anyone. Did she really deserve all the punishments Regina had heaped on her? "You took my father, drove me from my home and forced me to live in the woods as a bandit. Haven't you punished me enough?"

"That was just the beginning," Regina said, hand now in her bag. She pulled out an apple so red, it was almost unnatural and made Snow instantly suspicious. Holding it out, Regina said: "This is the end."

"Let me guess. It's poisoned," Snow replied, a bit disappointed that Regina would go with something so...common...but pleased she would go the same way her father had. It seemed more noble.

Regina's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Oh no. Death would be too good for you. This is a more fitting punishment."

That confused Snow. "What will that apple do then?"

"It will trap you in your mind," Regina told her. "Your body will be asleep while you will be aware of everything, including when your body starts to slowly decay. Your life will essentially end but you will still be alive for many years to come."

A chill ran down Snow's spine. "That's cruel."

"Yes," Regina replied.

Snow knew she was caught. Her choice was to either succumb to this fate worse than death or condemn Charming to his own death. Tears filled her eyes as she realized there really wasn't a choice for her.

"I eat your apple, you free Charming?" she confirmed.

"I will keep my promise," Regina said, holding out the apple to Snow.

With a deep breath, Snow took the apple from Regina as tears ran down her face. She looked up at her stepmother. "I hope this finally brings you the peace you seek."

"It will," Regina replied. "Eat the apple, Snow, and enjoy your prison of eternal sleep. Trapped in your own mind as your body decays around you. Just what you deserve."

"Tell Charming I love him and that I hope he can love again," Snow said, raising the apple to her mouth. With her eyes fixed on Regina, she bit into the juicy apple and started to chew.

And then her world went black.

Mary Margaret strode into Storybrooke General, a blast of antiseptic-scented recycled air hitting her. She showed as she approached the reception area and the woman behind the desk greeted her. With a nod of acknowledgement, Mary Margaret then entered a waiting elevator and hit the button for the floor she knew as well as her house or office.

The doors slid open and she headed straight for one particular room. She spotted a nurse coming out of it and her heart sped up - with the way the past few months had been going, she didn't need any more surprises or bad news. Even when she realized it was the regular nurse, her panic didn't recede. "Nurse Ratched," she greeted the woman.

"Madam Mayor," the nurse said. Her expression remained neutral as she looked Mary Margaret over. "How are you?"

"I'm doing well enough," she replied. While Nurse Ratched wasn't one to gossip or pry into her business, Mary Margaret still didn't want to take any chances and so changed the topic before her outburst could be mentioned. "How is he? Is something wrong?"

"Just did my routine check-up and everything looks good," Nurse Ratched assured her. "I'll leave you to your visit and then I'll turn him to prevent bedsores."

Mary Margaret thanked her before stepping into the hospital room, closing the door behind her. She took a deep breath before approaching the figure lying in the lone hospital bed, machines monitoring all his vital signs. Reaching out, she gently caressed his cheek. "Hello, Charming," she greeted. "It's Snow."

She sat down, taking her husband's limp but warm hand in hers. "I know I skipped last week and I'm sorry. Things were...well, pretty crazy and...I worry I may have messed everything up."

Mary Margaret swallowed before telling him about Halloween, from Regina's costume to her outburst at seeing the candied apples. "I just stood on that hill again, hearing her demand I eat the poisoned apple - saving you but condemning me to that fiery prison. It was awful."

For a moment, she was back in that room and surrounded by flames that always licked at her but never burned her. She felt the phantom pain of unrelenting heat searing her skin and her voice quivered. "I hated feeling that fear again and I just lashed out.

"But now Diana is convinced I'm really Snow White and that I'm the bad guy," she replied. "I had to give her some freedom to make her think otherwise but I just know she's with Regina."

Mary Margaret wiped some tears away as she let out a shuddering breath. "I fear all our hard work is going to be for nothing. Regina is no doubt starting to either believe or plot her revenge. And I don't know if I can protect Diana or if we're going to lose her to Regina's darkness."

Trembling from nervous energy and her emotions, she stood and started to walk around the room. "Maybe it would've been better if I was the one in the bed and you were awake. You would be so good with her and wouldn't be so incensed by Regina. You always kept me calm and I have no doubt you would do so with Diana."

She let out a sob before returning to the chair, taking his hand again. Mary Margaret pressed it against her cheek, wishing he was really cupping it like he used to. "I miss you so much, Charming," she whispered.

He didn't respond, still comatose. Charming's chest rose and fell in even breaths and every so often, she saw his eyes move under his lids - all involuntary movements, she knew. Despite years of unuse, his body was as strong and toned as when he was awake and they were in hiding from the Queen, constantly moving and ready to fight. It honestly looked like he was just sleeping but she knew better.

Even though she knew he would not, she still hoped that she would see his blue eyes and brilliant smile every visit. She wished he would respond and she sometimes feared she was forgetting the sound of his voice. Thankfully, this world had marvelous things called videos and the curse had created several that allowed her to see and hear David anytime she wanted.

But it still wasn't the same as having him with her again.

"I won't let your sacrifice be in vain," she vowed, conviction in her voice. "I will save Diana and this town. I will not let either go without a fight and I promise you that Regina will not win."

She took a deep breath and leaned forward, kissing his lips. "I love you, David, my Prince Charming."

His eyes stayed close and the beeping from the machine stayed steady. Though there was no response, she knew he heard her. She stood and placed her bag on her shoulder. "I'll see you next week," she told him softly.

She exited the room and nodded to Nurse Ratched. Mary Margaret got onto the elevator and sighed as the doors closed. While it was always hard to leave David, it was even harder now. She wished she had him with her now and grew even more determined to regain control of the curse so she could finally find a way to safely wake him up.

The doors opened and she left, walking away with renewed purpose. She acknowledged the receptionist as she wished Mary Margaret a good evening. Mary Margaret left the hospital and got into her car to head home, ready to spend a night bonding with Diana.

No happy ending came without a fight and Mary Margaret was a seasoned warrior. She may have been losing battles lately but she would win the war.

Exhilaration bubbled up inside Regina as Snow's eyes widened before fluttering closed. Her body crumpled at Regina's feet, her limp hand releasing the apple. It rolled down the hill, away from the scene as Regina's laughter echoed around the stables.

She was finally free from Snow White.

"Goodbye, Snow," she said, lifting up her skirts as she crouched down next to the princess. "I hope you finally learn your lesson. You'll have plenty of time with your conscience now."

Regina then frowned, recalling the one thing powerful enough to destroy this curse. She sighed. "Knowing your foolish prince, he's probably going to try to find you. And I can't risk him giving you True Love's Kiss. So we're going to have to hide your body where hopefully no one can find you."

Standing, she waved her hand and Snow's body disappeared into a cloud of purple smoke. As the sun warmed Regina's face, she decided a ride was in order. It had been too long since she had felt the breeze against her face and the rush of Rocinante galloping at full speed through a field. Now seemed like the perfect time to experience it again.

To really be free.

Giddy, she went to the stables and found her steed where she had left him. She got him ready for another ride and mounted him, heading for the field where she had first saved Snow White. It had bound her to her unhappy life of wife and queen and in some ways, had sealed Daniel's fate. Now it had been the site of her rebirth and as Rocinante raced through the field at full gallop, she almost felt like her old self.

And in that moment, she believed she was finally happy.

She leaned closer to Rocinante's neck and urged him to go faster. "Let's do this for him," she whispered to the horse.

Rocinante whinnied before increasing his speed. She closed her eyes and let the wind blow through her hair as she felt as if she were flying away from this place. In her mind, she left behind the pain and anger, left behind the betrayal, left behind the Evil Queen. For those shining moments, she was just Regina again and the world lay before her and Daniel. They could have whatever they wanted.

Slowing Rocinante, she opened her eyes and reality washed over her like a bucket of ice water. Daniel was still dead and for the first time in years, she had no goal in life. She had gotten her vengeance and she had gotten rid of Snow White but nothing seemed to change.

The moment of happiness had fled and now Regina just felt empty and lost. What was she going to do now?

She shook her head. This was her moment of triumph and she was going to enjoy it. With a kick, Rocinante took off again. Regina leaned against him as the wind whipped past her, making her feel alive again. She would run until Rocinante couldn't run anymore and then she would return to the palace to begin her new life without Snow White looming over it.

Regina rode for hours until the sun began to set and a chill filled the air. She slowed Rocinante to a stop before patting his neck. "Alright, boy. Let's go home," she told him.

She guided him toward the path that would cut through the woods and lead back to the palace. With the sun getting lower in the sky, she needed to get through the thick cropping of trees before she lost the light. As it waned, the wind grew colder and she shivered, eager to get back to her rooms. She knew Daddy would already have a roaring fire waiting for her and probably dinner too.

The terrain was rocky, though, and so Rocinante couldn't go as fast as she would've preferred. She didn't want any harm to come to him though, so she had to tamp down on her impatience. They would get home soon enough, even if it was later than she would've liked. Regina would just conjure up a light to guide them once the sunlight was completely gone.

She patted Rocinante's neck again. "Good boy. Just stay on this path and we'll be home soon enough. I think there might even be an apple in your future."

A wolf howled in the distance and she sat up straighter in her saddle. She swallowed, fear pricking at her. Tightening her grip on the reins, she took a few deep breaths. You're the Evil Queen. A few wolves can't scare you.

A loud noise echoed around her before something hard hit into her side, almost unseating her. It spooked Rocinante, who reared up. She clutched onto him, trying to keep from falling onto the hard forest floor, while also trying to soothe him. "It's alright, boy," she murmured to him. "It's alright."

Once he had all four hooves on the ground and seemed appeased, she straightened up again. Anger surged through her and she held up her hand, conjuring up a fireball. It danced just over her palm as she called out: "Who dared to attack me? Show yourself!"

"I'm right here," Charming replied, standing on a small hill to her left. He held out his sword, ready to charge at her. "Tell me what you've done with Snow."

She smirked, still feeling giddy at finally bringing down the princess. "She's unharmed...relatively speaking."

He frowned, clutching his sword tighter. "What does that mean?"

"You'll just have to see for yourself," Regina said. She then added smugly: "If you can find her, that is."

"I will find her," he vowed. "I will always find her."

He then jumped from his position, swinging his sword. Regina tried to move Rocinante out of the way, making sure he didn't get hurt. A sharp stinging sensation hit her arm and she hissed, trying to keep her horse under control without burning him with the fireball in her hand. She turned around, finding Charming scrambling back up a hill. Letting loose her fireball, she yelled: "I am not one to trifle with!"

"Neither am I!" he yelled back, raising his sword in a fighting position.

Regina dismounted Rocinante and moved away from him so he would not be caught up in her fight with Charming. She conjured up a sword of her own, swinging it with a smirk. While Charming did have some fighting skills, she was certain she would make quick work of him and then be on her way back to the palace in no time at all.

"You want a fight?" she taunted him, motioning for him to come at her. "Then let's fight."

"Fine by me," he replied. He let out a feral yell, charging her with his sword upright. Charming swung it just before he reached her and she blocked his blow easily.

She pushed him away, smirking. "Is that all you got?"

"I'm just getting warmed up," he told her, despite panting. His eyes burned with a fire and she smirked, eager for a fight before destroying him.

Charming charged at her again and she blocked him easily, rolling her eyes. "Do you always do the same thing? I thought you were supposed to be a fierce warrior," she taunted him.

He panted as he glared at her through their crossed blades, his face red. "I am. Do not underestimate me."

"I think someone might have an overinflated sense of their skills," she replied, pulling her sword away from his. As she did, she knocked his sword from his hands and used her magic to fling it further away from him.

He looked toward where the sword had landed and she figured he would run after it. She lowered her sword, prepared to use her magic to trap him with some fallen branches. It would give her time to get away from him and would mean it would be too dark for him to follow her.

Charming's annoyingly handsome face distorted as a feral scream pierced the forest. He charged her, throwing his full body weight at her before she could process what he was doing. She struggled to fill her lungs with air as she hit the ground, pain coursing through her body.

Sore, Regina tried to push herself up but her right hand was useless, unable to support her weight as pain rushed through that arm. It made her collapse against the ground again as nausea ripped through her. She fought against the urge to be sick as she managed to get onto her knees and use her left hand to support herself in a crawling position.

"Well, isn't this an interesting sight," he taunted her. "The powerful and feared Evil Queen bowed low."

"Don't get used to it," she shot back, struggling to get to her feet. While she favored her right hand to cast spells, she could still do so with her left - they just wouldn't have the same potency. And with her energy dwindling, she was going to have to fight strategically. He was disarmed so the upperhand was still hers.

Until she got to her feet and realized that her discarded sword hadn't vanished when she had been knocked down. Charming held it inches from her chest, staring at her with a hatred not even the growing shadows could hide. "Tell me, witch, what did you do to Snow White?" he asked, barely hiding the rage he felt.

For a moment, she considered making a snide remark about Snow White's fate. But she realized that she was at a severe disadvantage. Charming had her sword and she was too weak to trust her magic. Even if she temporarily disarmed him with her magic, it was likely she would pass out and be at his mercy. He was a hero but one who no doubt figured he had nothing to lose so who knew what he would do to her. Regina needed to figure out her best exit plan and retreat.

A soft whinny reminded her that Rocinante was there. She realized he was her best chance and she smirked as she looked up at Charming. "She's taking a long nap," she told him.

He let out another yell, lunging forward as she flicked her wrist to transport herself to Rocinante. As her magic engulfed her, she felt something sharp and cold sting her side. She gasped as she landed on Rocinante, who took off running toward home. Groaning from the sharp pain now emanating from her side, she reached over and pressed her hand there. She felt something warm and wet, causing her to remove her hand. Even in the dying light, she knew what coated her fingers - blood.

Snow's infuriating white knight had managed to wound her.

Regina tried to grip Rocinante's reins but she could feel her energy drain. The uneven forest ground made her feel every broken bone and sprain in her body. Blood also continued to flow out of the wound on her side as she didn't have the ability to heal it magically. All she could do was hope she could hold on until she got through the woods and got back to the palace.

Her hope started to fade when she realized everything wasn't getting dark just because the sun had set. Blackness crept over her vision and her head began to spin as she felt her stomach lurch. Whatever strength she had fled and she felt herself tip over before the darkness and numbness swallowed her.

Rob was confused when his doorbell rang one afternoon as he was not expecting company. He crossed to the door, his heart beating faster when he saw who stood on the other side. "Regina!"

"Hi," she said, holding a cake carrier. "I owe you a pie and I had some free time ahead of the holiday rush, so I made you one now. Miriam told me how to get to your house."

She paused to take a breath before holding out the cake carrier. "I hope you like pumpkin pie."

"I love pumpkin pie," he replied, taking the carrier. He then stood to the side. "Care to share it with me?"

"I made it for you," she replied, looking torn - like she wanted to come in but was hesitant to do so.

He nodded. "And I want to share it with you. I can't eat this all by myself."

She let out a soft laugh at that and stepped into his house. Regina looked around as she took off her coat. "You have a very lovely house."

"Thank you," he replied, proud she liked his humble home. He took her coat and hung it up.

"But why live so far from the main part of town?" she asked. "You don't seem to be the reclusive type."

He chuckled, leading her into the kitchen. Setting the carrier on his counter, he said: "It's for my tree farm."

"Tree farm?" she asked, sounding surprised. He thought everyone knew about his Christmas tree farm even if they didn't buy a tree from him - which she didn't as he had never seen her there.

Rob nodded, looking back at her. "I own a Christmas tree farm. Grow and nurture them throughout the year and then sell the ones that are ready during the holiday season."

"That's amazing," she replied, leaning against one of his kitchen chairs. "I've never really celebrated Christmas so no need for a tree."

"No Christmas? Who are you? Ebenezer Scrooge?" he asked, unable to believe she didn't celebrate Christmas.

Her smile drooped and she looked away. "I didn't really have much to celebrate. For me, it was always just another day - just one where the sisters were nicer to me and we would have a bigger meal than usual."

Rob felt like an absolute jackass. He knew she had no family and no friends, that most of the town treated her like a pariah and she had been on her own for many years. Christmas no doubt was just a painful reminder of everything she didn't have. And in that case, why celebrate it?

"Shit," he said, grimacing. "I'm sorry. Christmas no doubt wasn't the happiest time of the year for you."

"That's one way to put it," she replied before smiling again. "But I think this year will be different."

"I believe it will," he said, vowing to make sure she had the best Christmas possible this year.

An idea hit him at that point and he turned to face her. "Would you like to see my farm?" he asked her.

"Now?" she asked, sounding surprised. When he nodded, she grew giddy. "Sure!"

He retrieved their coats and they readied themselves to head into the cold November air. Rob led her to his beloved farm, opening the gate to let her in. "And these are my babies," he said proudly.

"Did you name them?" she asked, her tone and smile making it clear she was teasing him.

"Of course not," he replied, playing along. "Then I would have to keep them all."

She laughed, gently running her hand over the boughs of a blue fir. "I have always wanted a Christmas tree," she said softly.

"Well, why don't you pick one out now and I'll set it aside for you?" he suggested, knowing this was one way to give her the best Christmas ever.

"I don't want to inconvenience you," she said, looking like she wanted to take his offer but was still hesitant. She likely was still unused to people doing nice things for her without any agenda.

He wanted to punch everyone who hurt her.

"It won't be an inconvenience at all," he replied. "Ian does it as well."

"Well, if you're already doing it, then I'll do it as well," she said, her smile brightening. "So, how does one pick a Christmas tree?"

He reached out his hand. "I'll be happy to show you."

She took his hand and Rob showed her the different trees he had marked for sale, explaining the different types. She listened intently, asking a question every so often. The entire time, her hand remained in his and it felt so right. Like they had done it a thousand times before. He did not believe in reincarnation but it did feel like he and Regina had shared another life before this one.

Maybe fate was real after all.

After some searching, she settled on a Douglas fir that was about his height. He found a tag and marked it as on hold. "You can pay when I deliver it to you," he told her.

"You'll deliver it for me?" she asked, surprised He wondered if she would ever get used to people doing nice things for her just because they wanted to.

"Of course," he replied. "It'll be easier for me to transport it in my truck."

She threw her arms around him and he held her close as she whispered: "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied, wishing their hug wouldn't end.

But it did. Regina pulled away with a big smile on her face. "You should stay and help me decorate too."

"I would love to," he said, overjoyed by the invitation. He knew his feelings for her already went beyond just friendship but wasn't sure about hers. Rob didn't want to ask her out and then make things awkward if she didn't feel the same way about him. But if she wanted him to help her decorate for Christmas, then maybe her feelings ran deeper too.

"Great!" she said, her eyes lighting up. "I'll ask Miriam and the others. Make a real party of it."

"Oh," he replied, his spirits crashing. He swallowed before forcing himself to smile. "That sounds great."

He then changed the subject, reaching for her hand again. "So, still have time to share a slice of pumpkin pie with me?"

She nodded, taking his hand again. They left the farm and returned to his house. As he cut them slices of pie, he swallowed his disappointment. Just because she wanted to have their other friends help her decorate, it wasn't a definitive answer on the nature of their relationship. It could also be too soon for her to know what she wanted from him as well. He needed to be patient and just keep spending time with her until they could figure out if their relationship would turn romantic or stay platonic.

He placed her plate in front of her before sitting down with his own. Robin tried the pie and had to swallow his own moan with that first bite. "This is bloody good," he told her.

"Is it? I haven't gotten a lot of feedback on my pumpkin pie. Everyone seems to prefer my apple pie," she said.

"Well, I hope to try that soon," he replied. "I want to try all your baked goods."

She chuckled. "I don't think your waistline would appreciate it."

"I'll just run it off," he replied, taking another bite.

"Do you run regularly?" she asked.

He shook his head. "But I'll start just to keep eating your baking."

"Sounds like a plan," she replied with a laugh. It sounded like music to his ears. Rob hoped to hear it as much as possible and vowed to make her happier than she had ever been - whether they only stayed friends or became much more.

And he would do so far as long as he could.

The band of thieves moved under cover of darkness, easily navigating through the forest they called home. All were in a good mood, running off the high of another successful mission. Pockets were laden with gold coins and some wore jewelry as others carried a couple chests with treasures locked inside. In the rear was a burly man carrying a buck they had killed after their job was done, knowing it was a sign that spring had returned to the forest. Game and vegetation would once again be abundant and their lean diets during the winter would soon be abandoned.

And that especially pleased their leader While they were good at rationing out their food for the winter so no one went hungry, they did grow tired of the same jerky and dried fruits they often had to eat day after day. Little John, the one carrying the buck, tried his best to make things more appetizing and every so often they were able to catch a fish or two, but variety was not common during the winter months. Fresh venison would be a welcome change of pace.

It had definitely been a good night for them.

Distressed whinnying caught his ear and he stopped, holding up his hand to halt his group's progress. He felt them all stop as well and his second asked: "What's wrong, Robin?"

"Listen," he instructed. He heard the whinny again and pointed to his left. "We need to go that way."

His men moved with him, all of them following the sounds of the horse until they came to a clearing. Robin could make out the brown stallion in the pale moonlight filtering through the trees. The horse appeared to be almost dancing around something on the ground and Robin approached cautiously, not wanting to spook the creature.

As he neared the horse, he realized that a person lay on the ground and he just knew they had been the horse's rider. The stallion stopped its frantic movements as Robin slowly knelt next to the person, who he realized was a woman. Her breathing was haggard but she was still breathing - a good sign.

"Robin? What's going on?" his second asked, approaching him.

"She's injured," Robin replied. "We can't just leave her here, John. We need to take her with us so Tuck can look at her."

John nodded, looking up at the horse. "You think the horse is hers?"

"I do," Robin replied. "I can feel that her dress is made of fine materials and the creature has been staying close to her."

"What do you think happened to her?" John asked.

"My best guess right now is that she fell off her horse and was injured when she hit the ground," Robin said, carefully rising with her in his arms. "But we'll know more when we get her back to the camp and Tuck can properly examine her."

John nodded, standing as well. "Do you want to carry her or ride with her? After all, we should take her horse with us."

Robin looked down at the unconscious woman in his arms. She wasn't heavy, despite her layers of clearly expensive and finely made materials, but he worried about making her injuries worse if he carried her. Riding with her seemed to be the best option, but he also wanted to at least stabilize her arm, which now hung at an awkward angle.

"I'll get a sturdy branch for her arm," John said, clearly noticing it as well. Robin thanked him and did his best to hold her steady.

They quickly put her arm in a sling and John took her from Robin's arms. "You climb on the horse and I'll hand her to you," he said.

Robin nodded, mounting the horse. The stallion moved a bit, clearly jolted by an unfamiliar rider. But Robin soothed him, assuring the horse that he was just trying to help the creature's mistress. He didn't know if the horse understood him but the animal calmed, allowing John to pass the woman back to Robin.

He settled her in his arms before nodding to John. "I think you should lead the horse to make sure it doesn't run off or jolt her. We need this to keep her from getting injured further."

"I agree," John said, gently taking the horse's lead. "Alright, boy, let's get your mistress to safety."

The horse started to walk forward and John guided him at a slow but steady pace. Robin knew the rest of his men fell in behind them and they continued on their way to their camp. He glanced down at the woman, still unable to make out too many defining features in the darkness. Whoever she was, though, he was certain someone would come looking for her. They were going to have to be careful.

But first, they needed to heal her. Then they could help her get back to where she belonged - wherever that ended up being.

A/N: Here's the next chapter! I'm sure you can understand why this one took me so long to write – A LOT happened in it. But it was necessary to move some of the plots forward – in both the present but especially the past. Robin Hood and the Merry Men have entered the storybook. How does that affect Regina's story in both the past and the present? Find out soon(ish)!

Thanks to everyone for your support this year! I know 2020 hasn't been easy for anyone. I hope you all have a happy holiday season and better 2021.

And once again, a BIG thank you to Eva (glindalovesshoes) for all her help with this story!

-Mac