I hope you all are still enjoying this story. I was sad to see that no one reviewed the last chapter, but I'm hoping its more of a -people are busy- thing, not a -people don't like the story anymore- thing. Anyway, hope this chapter is satisfactory... and just a hint of what to expect in this chapter... your wait for some actual romance is over! Enjoy. Pretty please review, it makes me feel like people like my story and fuels me to keep going.

The next morning, when Regina woke up, she rolled over on her makeshift bed on the forest floor. The first thing in her line of vision was David, facing her from about ten feet away. Sitting up, she didn't take her eyes off him. Regina had found that since her talk with him the day before, when she had told him to back off, all she could think about was kissing him. Shaking the thought from her head, she stood with a yawn and a stretch, and grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows. She slung her satchel across her chest and checked that her canteen was attached and the bowl was inside. After she was certain she had everything, she walked under the cover of the forest, listening for water and something to kill for food.

Once she found some water, she knelt on the ground, cupping the water into her hands and running it over her face and the roots of her hair. She filled the canteen and reattached it to her satchel, sticking close to the riverside to watch for any small animals that might come for a drink. In less than twenty minutes she had killed two squirrels and a small rabbit. She also managed to find enough berries to fill her bowl, so she headed back to camp.

Walking into the small clearing, she found that Mulan and David were awake, while Aurora was still sleeping. She handed the animals off to the warrior to clean and prepare for cooking. Regina pulled out a match and set a fire. Pulling the bowl of berries out of her satchel, she passed it to David, watching as he cautiously took it from her, looking like a stricken puppy. She had noticed that since she had pushed him away the day before, he looked hurt. Feeling slightly guilty, Regina tried to offer him a smile, though he looked away before he could see it. She mentally scolded herself. She shouldn't have been so harsh, he probably was just looking for the missing affection he needed, just as she felt the desire to be touched and kissed herself. The fact that it was each other they were searching for it from just happened because of their circumstance.

Watching that Mulan was properly occupied, Regina stood and moved to sit next to David on his blanket. She sat to his left, both of them had their knees bent, in the air and their feet resting against the ground. She bumped his shoulder with hers, trying again to smile at him. This time, David returned it with a half-hearted smile of his own. Chuckling, Regina pulled a berry from the bowl and held it in front of his mouth, and even though he resisted at first, when she started moving it, almost like tempting a child to eat food, he smiled and wrapped his lips around her fingers, sucking the berry out of her grasp.

"Mood swings much, Regina?" he said, after swallowing the fruit.

"David… I'm sorry about yesterday, I was far too rude and you didn't deserve that."

"But…?"

"But, I feel like we're both misplacing our need for a physical relationship and trying to act it out with each other. It's… it would only end in issues, David. You have Snow to get back to, and… and I don't do the whole relationship thing very well. Is that fair to say?"

"Yeah. I guess that you're probably right. It's really nice being your friend, and I really don't want to jeopardize that. But it's been lonely here, maybe I was misreading the signs."

"And perhaps we should make it a point to not be around each other while we're partially undressed," Regina answered with a smile.

"That probably doesn't help the situation, no." Even as he said the words, his eyes roamed over her clothed form. The tight riding pants that formed to her legs and ass like liquid, her blouse that was unbuttoned too far, and the brown leather vest that covered the sides of her neck with its collar, but moved with the curve of her breasts and waist smoothly. "David…" she breathed, her body temperature increasing under his intense gaze. "That's probably not going to help, either." Swallowing thickly, Regina tried to smile at him, though the desire building in her stomach stopped her from being able to.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I'll behave, I promise. But… you have to promise you're going to still try the being friends thing. This time that we've been here, I never would have imagined you are the person you are proving to be. I want you as my friend. I understand why Snow always wanted to try to save you."

"Thank you, David. And yes… the being friends thing I can do. I just really need you to stop looking at me like you want to devour me." He laughed, because it was true, he did want to. He wanted to taste every part of her body and he couldn't explain why. She was attractive; sure, and if he was being perfectly honest with himself he would have to admit that she was likely the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. And she was funny, and intelligent, and though he had always known the latter, he had never been exposed to a funny Regina, and it was something he wanted to be around constantly. Still, he was married and just because he found her to be beautiful, intelligent and funny, didn't mean that he should consistently imagine what it would be like to spend a day in bed with her.

The day's journey passed easily. They packed up and left shortly after eating, crossing much more land than they figured they would in the light hours. When they settled that night, Regina told the group that they probably only had four hours of travel to walk the next day. In the morning, Regina and Mulan were the first to wake and they headed out to hunt together. Regina stopped when she heard something familiar, but she couldn't place it. Holding her hand in front of her companion, she held a finger to her lips and listened closely.

Walking again, slowly and quietly toward the sound, she passed through some bushes and found three horses feeding on grass. Smiling brightly, Regina walked slowly toward them, holding her hands down to her sides and only walking halfway toward them. Clicking her tongue lightly, she drew one of the horses to her. Once the horse put it's head down, Regina rubbed it's face, starting between her eyes and down to the side of her head.

"You are so beautiful," she breathed. The mare was chocolate colored with a white patch between her eyes. The other two horses slowly made their way toward her, and she pet each one as they came to her. The other two were palomino horses, one male and one female.

"Should we be able to ride them?" Mulan asked.

"I think so. Though…I should stay here with them to make sure they remain. It will take perhaps half the time to get to the castle if we take them. Go get David and Aurora and gather our things. David should have rope, tell him to make sure he keeps it all out."

"Alright, hopefully I will be back with them shortly."

When Mulan arrived with the other two, she appeared against the idea of sharing a horse with Aurora and Regina had a feeling as to why, so they both got their own horse, blankets laid on the bare backs of the mares and each one carrying two of the travelers packs the group had. After laying a blanket on its back, Regina mounted the male palomino first, since she'd be riding in front. Scooting forward, she made room for David, who clumsily mounted the horse behind her.

"Never mount a horse bareback before?" Regina teased.

"No, I have… just not ever with someone already on it."

"I see. Ready to go?"

"Yeah. So… I'm just gonna…" he said, watching her as he motioned that he was going to put his arms around her. Rolling her eyes, Regina reached back and grabbed a hand in each of hers, pulling his arms around her waist and latching his hands together.

"Child."

"Well, excuse me if we didn't just discuss this."

"Well, it's not like you're feeling me up for fun."

"Thanks for completely clearing my head of inappropriate thoughts, Regina," David groaned. When Regina dug her heels into the horse's sides, he began moving and David instinctively pulled Regina back against him, his chest flush with her back. She inhaled sharply at the change, his pelvis pressed against her lower pack. Checking to make certain the other women were following them, Regina led the horse to the castle.

They made it to their destination in just under two hours. Regina had them bring the horses inside the castle walls, away from view of anyone who might just happen to pass by, leaving Aurora and Mulan with them. David led the way to the floor that held the bedchambers. When he stopped outside of one of the rooms and hesitated, she assumed it would be the one.

"Do you want me to… should I let you go in alone?" she asked softly.

"No, it wouldn't do any good. It's likely I'll need your help anyway."

"Very well." Pushing the door open, David entered the room and breathed heavily, his eyes welling at the sight of the destroyed nursery. Regina walked straight to the wardrobe, trying to imagine how she would be able to get it back to her castle. It would take a great deal of energy to poof it with the rest of them.

There was a knock at the door to the nursery and Regina looked up, moving to stand protectively in front of David. The man from the safe haven entered the room. Lancelot, Regina believed his name was.

"Lancelot? What are you doing here?" David spoke.

"I came to see how your journey was going."

"How did you know we were here?" David asked cautiously.

"I… I saw some travelers with horses enter the castle walls, I assumed it was you, since most everyone else stays near the safe haven." He smiled, and then nodded toward the wardrobe. "Is that what you're going to use to get home?"

Before David could answer, Regina spoke up. "Why would we use an old tree to get home?" she asked, trying to force as much incredulity into her tone as possible.

"Well, it has magical properties."

"How would you know that?"

With a shrug, Lancelot answered, "I just assumed." In a quick movement, Regina pulled the matches from her bag and set the wardrobe on fire, then moved to stand in front of David.

"Mother, leave." Smoke overcame the figure, and surely Cora was standing in the place Lancelot had been seemingly standing.

"It took you longer than I expected, dear," Cora said, taunting her daughter. "You're much slower than you should be."

"Mother, please, just leave us alone."

"I will, if you tell me the truth to just one question."

"What, mother?"

"Why are you so protective over this peasant? Regina… really? A shepherd?"

"He's family. I need to keep him safe."

"Wrong answer. Surely, you know you couldn't use the wardrobe without the compass, anyway."

"What compass, mother?"

"The one that holds your proper destination. The wardrobe would take you outside of this little land you're searching for, would it not?"

"How do you know that?"

"I have my ways. You really should have let me teach you. I will leave you alone for now, but I will find you again, and I will have you on my side."

"I wouldn't count on it, mother." Cora disappeared in another cloud of smoke, and David turned to look at the burned wardrobe. Regina knelt beside him on the floor in front of the ashes. "I'm sorry, David. She would have hurt Henry if she could use it to get to Storybrooke."

"It's… that's fine, Regina. It's not your fault. You did what you had to do."

"We need to get out of here."

"Can we… is there a way the ashes might still have the magical properties?"

"Perhaps. We could take them with us and I can do some research." David nodded, and Regina figured since her mother knew where she was, conjuring an empty flask wouldn't hurt. Scooping the ashes into the glass container, she stoppered it and dropped it into her satchel. "David…" she started, placing her hands on either side of his face. "I'm so very sorry for what I took away from you. You… you didn't deserve that." Her chocolate eyes flickered between his sky blue ones, and she stood on her tiptoes to press a gentle kiss to his forehead.

"It's… I understand why you did what you did. It no longer matters that much. It's painful, seeing what could have been, but Emma wouldn't have turned out to be the person she is, had we raised her, and I'm not sure I would want to change her."

"Do you want a minute alone?"

"No, we should probably go."

"Very well." She held his hand, comfortingly, as they walked back to the entrance hall to find Mulan, Aurora and the horses. "I'd like to bring them back with us," she said. "Please, everyone take hands, David, Mulan, can you each grasp the ropes on the horses? That should be sufficient for me to pull us all back."

When they were all standing on her land, Regina led the horses into her inner courtyard, where they could roam safely and be protected. She conjured bales of hay for them to eat. It would be enough for them; it was only humans that didn't get sufficient nutrients from magicked food. She prepared a lunch for the group, since they hadn't eaten yet. After everyone ate their meals, David was the first to excuse himself, his mood off, but not unexpected.

Since David was feeling particularly defeated after seeing Emma's intended nursery, Regina felt bad for him. After coming up with a plan, she gathered Mulan and Aurora, pulling them along with her to David's room. Knocking on his door, she waited with the other two women patiently until he called for them to enter. Once all four were together in the room, Regina spoke.

"I am doing something out of character. I expect all of you to meet me in the ballroom in an hour's time. It is on the second floor, the largest room. The doors will be open. I expect you all to show up in formal wear. David, you can find something formal in the room on the other side of their room," she informed, waving to the women before turning to face them. "Aurora, you should fit well into anything in Snow's wardrobe. And Mulan, would you like a gown of mine or a formal suit? I have formal knight's clothing somewhere if you'd like."

"I would appreciate that. The suit, that is," Mulan answered.

"Very well. David, Aurora, please go get ready. Mulan, come with me." Regina led the other woman to the bottom floor, where most of the guards had stayed. She's had a guard named Kristoff whose frame was fairly small. He had been one of her most loyal men, and one of the first she had knighted. Fetching his dress clothes, Regina held them out, snapping her fingers so that Mulan was magically dressed in them.

"You look lovely."

"Thank you. I'm not fond of dresses. I am a warrior, I don't do frilly."

Chuckling, Regina replied, "You are a warrior princess, are you not?"

"Perhaps, but I prefer warrior."

"Warrior you remain."

"What are your plans for tonight?"

"We are going to have a ball. A rather small one, but one nonetheless."

"A peculiar time for a ball."

"I just think that David needs something to make him happier, raise his spirits."

"Are you and David together?" Mulan asked casually.

With a light chuckle, Regina answered, "No dear, we are not. We are barely friends. But… he is more helpful to me when he is in a good mood."

"I think that he feels more for you than friendship."

"I disagree. I do need to get ready though. You can find your way?" When Mulan nodded, Regina poofed herself to her own room in a small panic. Attempting to control her breathing, Regina conjured a small paper bag and breathed into it. Once her breaths were even, she placed her right hand over her heart.

She couldn't possibly be having legitimate romantic feelings for Prince Charming. There couldn't possibly be anyone less available. He was decently similar to her Daniel, though. Both were kind, optimistic, saw the good inside of her. Both had lived humble lives. Well, David's had been mostly humble, where's Daniel's was completely so. Both men showed her how good and forgiving people could be, how trustworthy and trusting it was possible to be. But no, she couldn't be feeling that way for him. And he certainly couldn't—wouldn't feel that way for her. Wanting to bed someone was one thing, wanting a relationship was a different thing entirely

Shaking the thoughts from her head, she walked to her dress wardrobe. She pulled out a ruby red dress with stones embedded across the breast. The dress was the very same as the one she has been wearing when Sidney gave her the news that David had found Snow and that his True Love's kiss had woken her up. But she didn't want to hold that against the dress. She waved her hand and in a moment, she was wearing it. Instead of wearing the floor length cape coat she had worn before, she pulled on a long-sleeved half cover. It had two small buttons that connected below her breasts and the fabric curved around the sides of her breasts, leaving her dress exposed. The black fabric pressed softly into the insides of her shoulders, ending in a collar that was left up against her neck.

It wasn't a close fitting dress, not like some had been, but it also wasn't an ordinary ball gown. The front of the ruby material dipped low between her breasts, exposing the smooth, flat skin of her sternum and the attractive cleavage from the center of her chest. Slipping matching stilettos on, Regina checked herself over in a full-length mirror. With a wave of her hand, her lips were painted light red and her hair was styled in curls. She checked the position of the sun and knew it was time to go.

She was the first to arrive, which was her plan. As certain as she remembered, there was a harp, a viol and a rebec on a raised floor; the stage. The room had six fireplaces, one on each far end of the room and two on each longer wall. One side of the room had four sets of double doors that led to balconies. With a wave of her hand, six fires were blazing, all the doors were opened and the room looked wonderful.

"You look…beautiful." Regina jumped at the masculine voice behind her. Turning, she saw David entering the room through the main doors and it was all she could do not to let her jaw drop. He was dressed in black boots and black pants. Wearing a puffy white shirt that he covered with a deep green suede jacket, and he looked handsome. There was pearly embroidery on the front of the jacket on either side of the opening. A black belt was hooked around his waist, holding his jacket closed near the bottom. Attached to the back shoulders of the jacket was an even deeper green cape.

"Thank you," she answered, her heart fluttering madly. "You look very dapper." Offering him a smile, she walked over to stand beside him and wait for the other guests.

Mulan and Aurora entered together, Aurora having chosen a beautiful light blue, long-sleeved dress with a v-neck.

"Lovely choice, Aurora. That color suits your skin tone," Regina complimented with a bright smile.

"So… what are we doing here?" David asked.

"We're having a ball, of course."

"With no music?"

"You forget," Regina answered with a cocky smirk and a wave of her wave. The motions caused the instruments to all begin playing a traditional ball dance song. Chuckling, David held out his hand for Regina and Mulan held hers out for Aurora. The four began twirling around the ballroom. After several dances, Regina switched with Aurora, dancing with Mulan for a couple of songs.

A couple of hours passed and moods were lifted. Mulan and Aurora interrupted the other pair to inform them that they were going to get some sleep. After they were gone, Regina again faced David.

"You must be tired. You should go catch up on sleep as well," she stated.

"Will you be going to sleep?"

"I think I may stay a while. I'm not yet tired."

"I can dance as long as you can," David offered, holding his hand out again with a smile. Regina accepted it, grinning back at him and they were dancing once again. "Will you play a slow song from our other world?"

Regina nodded and the music changed to play the instrumentals of Chicago's You're the Inspiration. The pair held each other close, David had his right arm resting across Regina's back so his hand was holding her right below her right shoulder blade, his left hand cupping her right in the air beside their shoulders. Regina's left arm was bent at the elbow, her forearm resting against his tricep and her hand cupping his shoulder from behind. There wasn't much they could change to make them any closer physically than they were. David led the slow steps very well and Regina was enjoying him. Her temple was resting against his jaw and her eyes closed on instinct when he hummed into her dark hair.

"You move as fluid as water," he complimented.

"You dance very well, too."

"Tell me something about yourself."

"I love to dance." Her answer was accompanied with a wry grin that he couldn't see, but he could feel the skin against her temple shift.

"Something I wouldn't know by your actions."

"I love listening to love songs."

"Oh yeah?"

"Sure. They make me feel… hopeful."

"You are too incredible to not find love again, Regina." She didn't answer, just changed the song to Somewhere Only We Know by Keane.

"I recognize this one," David breathed.

"It was quite popular." The pair didn't speak again for a while, though they remained dancing. Regina switched the song each time one ended until she unintentionally landed on Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis. Her eyes brimmed lightly with tears that she refused to let fall. When the song was drawing to a close, David sang the last of the lyrics into her ear.

Take my hand, take my whole life, too.

For I can't help falling in love with you.

Regina gasped and pulled away, looking into electric blue eyes.

"David?" she whispered, but it was all she could say before David's lips closed against hers. Gently, their lips moved together for long moments, mouths open but neither brave enough to move their tongue. Their bodies stopped moving, David's hands raised to cup her face. With this kiss, he slid his tongue out, barely brushing her parted lips, asking her permission. Sighing, she moved her own tongue to meet his. Their lips and tongues moved together slowly and timidly, like teenagers with their first kiss, uncertain if it was ok but not wanting to stop. It was the sweetest kiss Regina could remember ever having. She moved her arms between his, wrapping them around his neck and pulling him as close as she could.

When they were both too breathless to keep the kiss going, they broke apart, foreheads touching and eyes closed, breathing in the same air. David placed two quick and chaste kisses on her mouth before he spoke.

"Regina…"

"David… David what are we doing?" She hadn't moved, just enjoyed the feel of him so close to her.

"I don't know, but it doesn't feel wrong." Looking up at him, Regina's chocolate eyes shifted between his bright blue ones, searching for a lie. When she couldn't find it, she felt her heart panic for the second time that day and she waved her arms in front of her, removing herself from the situation and taking her to her room.

"Oh gods, what have I done?" she asked herself out loud, once she was alone. "What have I done?"