When Emma woke up the next morning, the bed was empty. Light was streaming in through the window, and she wondered what time it was. She got up immediately sliding on her clothes to go find the brunette. Emma searched everywhere without any lucky before going outside and walking the castle grounds. It was almost an hour later when the blonde entered the stables to see Regina's standing their motionless. Regina's back was to Emma, but Emma could see the way Regina's shoulders where shaking. She was crying.

Emma was at her side quickly. Regina seemed startled by Emma's presence.

"Are you ok Regina? I woke up and you were gone." Emma said.

Regina didn't respond at all. She just looked down at the ground right next to a post. Regina's sobs continued to rake through her body, and Emma had no idea what to do.

"I can give you some time alone." Emma said stepping away. As the blonde got to the door, she heard Regina ask her to please stay. She returned to her spot next to the brunette and just let Regina cry next to her. After quite some time, Regina's tears had slowed down. She was still struggling to catch her breath.

"This has been the hardest story to tell you." Regina finally said.

"You don't have to tell me."

"I do." Regina said turning to face Emma. Regina looked so much younger in that moment that Emma was a little taken back by it all.

"His name was Daniel." Regina began taking in a shaky breath. "He was the first person I ever loved. He was the only person I ever loved until you."

Emma knew speaking wasn't a good idea. Regina was struggling to tell her this story, and she needed to be patient with it.

"My mother would have never approved of him. He was our stable boy." Regina said gesturing around the abandoned stable. "He told me that everything would be ok when Leopold asked me to marry him. He said we would run away together and get married."

A few tears escaped Regina's eye, and Emma moved to wipe them away. Regina stopped her hand. This heartache wasn't something Emma was supposed to be a part of.

"I told Snow White that I wasn't in love with her father. I told her I was in love with Daniel." Emma sensed the change in Regina's tone immediately, and she knew this was going to be the true reason for Regina's vengeance.

"She told my mother." Regina said in a tone that actually frightened Emma. "Do you know what my mother did?"

Emma didn't say anything, but she shook her head no.

"She waited for the night we were going to run away together. She stopped us. She killed him. She ripped his heart out all because Snow White couldn't keep her mouth shut." Regina said.

"She was a little kid Regina." Emma said, and she knew right then it was the wrong thing to say.

"She is the reason that my true love is dead Emma." Regina shouted. Emma stepped back at those words as she registered what Regina had said. The hurt was written all over Emma's face, and Regina's tone softened immediately.

"Emma please don't do this." Regina said as Emma began to walk out of the stable. "I loved him. There is no question about that. I thought he was my true love, and I still think that he was. If he wouldn't have been killed, so much would have been different. You would be off marrying some prince after living your life as a princess."

"But that isn't what happened Regina." Emma said stepping closer to her again. "He was killed, and it doesn't matter whose fault it was. Your mother killed him. If it wasn't for that moment, we wouldn't have Henry either. So, yes, you would still have had Daniel, but you wouldn't have had me or Henry. Would you trade us for him?"

Regina's eyes met Emma's with an intensity Emma had never seen before. "No." It was a simple statement, but it spoke volumes.

"I'm sorry this happened to you Regina. I'm sure Daniel didn't deserve that, but all I keep hearing is how your mother and the Dark One ran and ruined your life. They are to blame Regina." Emma said pulling the brunette towards her.

"I know." Regina said breathlessly feeling like a weight had been lifted off her shoulder with that admission.

"What do you think Daniel would want?" Emma asked.

"He would like you." Regina responded with a smile. "He always protected me, and you have done nothing but protect me and save me time and time again. If I was going to be with anyone else, he would want it to be you."

Emma smiled at her words. "Did you ride horses?"

"All the time. That is how I met Snow White." Regina answered. "She was on an out of control horse when I was out one day in the fields with Daniel. I saved her life."

Emma was surprised by this. "Yet another story that is left out of the book." Regina finished.

"I can't wait to get home so I can confront those assholes about all of this. My mother knows this story. How could she not tell me?" Emma asked frustrated.

"She doesn't know everything Emma. Like you said, she was a child. She just wanted a mother, and she didn't notice how hurt I was." Regina said with something akin to sympathy for Snow White in her voice.

"I will tell her." Emma said earnestly.

"I don't know if that will do anything to help honey, but I appreciate that you are going to try. Always the knight in shining armor." Regina said pulling Emma close.

"More like the knight in a leather jacket." Emma responded with a laugh.

"An awful leather jacket." Regina said in a playful tone.

"I am sorry that you lost him." Emma said. "I'm sorry about everything that had happened to you. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you throughout all of it."

"It's alright dear." Regina said. "You are here now."