"Let's go." Regina linked her arm through Daniel's. 'This was it', she thought. 'I'm going to be free. Away from my mother. Away from this life. I'm going to be free and happy with my true love.' If only that was the case. Outside the stable stood Cora, Regina's mother, ready for their escape.

"You could have at least left a note." Cora spoke, sarcasm and distain dripping from her every word before the pair were thrown back into the stable by a wave of Cora's hand.

The battle that raged between the mother and daughter was intense. Regina tried everything to make her mother see that her happiness was more important that status and power.

"This will make you happy?" Cora eventually asked her daughter. Regina answered truthfully as her mother came to terms with what Regina's life decision meant. With her daughter's words spoken Cora knew only one thing had to be done. She took Daniel to the side, away from Regina, so she could have a heart to heart talk with him.

"Daniel, if you want to have a life together, a family, then there is one important lesson I can impart on you. It's what it means to be a parent. You always have to do what's best for your children." Cora's words came out so real and sincere that both Daniel and Regina believed in them. Regina couldn't help but smile. Finally, her mother was seeing Regina for who she was and who she wanted to be.

If only Regina hadn't let her mother's words blind her to how she truly was. It wasn't until it was too late that Regina remember what her mother truly was: a monster. Just as Cora was finishing her speech Daniel and Regina shared a loving glance before her true love's heart was ripped from his chest. Cora held the blood red, vibrant, beating heart in the palm of her hand. She always relished in the way a heart in her hand felt. It was power at its greatest. Once you had the heart of your victim they were at your mercy.

Daniel dropped to the floor as Cora squeezed his heart. Regina, not wasting another second, ran to his side. She held him in her arms, but she knew it was already too late. The dust of Daniel's heart ran through Cora's fingers. If there was one thing Cora liked more than holding a beating heart in her hand it was crushing a once beating heart.

Her mother's voice was becoming blurred and muffled as Regina focused on bringing her true love back. 'Who cares about magic? True love is the most powerful magic of all. It can overcome anything.' Daniel's voice spoke in Regina's head, as clear as if he'd just said them. 'True love... True loves kiss!' The brunette thought. Without wasting anymore time she kissed Daniel, again and again, willing him to come back to her. Tears rolled down her face as his remained lifeless in her arms.

Regina would have stayed there all night if it meant she could hold Daniel, but her mother had other ideas. Soon the young woman was on her feet, the glow of the fire lighting up her face, whilst her mother held her in place by her shoulders. "Now, you're going to be Queen."

Soon images flashed in her mind: her life as Queen, how trapped she was, her first meeting of Daniel, there secret courtship. Eventually the images ended with a single shot of Daniel's heart being pulled from his body. The rage Regina felt consumed her. That one heartbreaking moment replayed on a constant loop, no matter how tightly she closed her eyes and wished the images away. She could still hear the squelching sound as her mother grabbed his heart, the heavy thud as he landed on the straw covered floor and even the slight crackle as her true loves heart was crushed before her eyes. This sequence sped up as a red glow tarnished the ever growing speed until all Regina could hear was the cold cruel laugh of her mother.

•••

Regina inhaled a sharp breath as she jolted into an upright position. It had been a bad dream. That was all. The Mayor smoothed her hair down and let go of the sheets she didn't realise she'd been clinging onto. A trembling hand went up to her head as she felt the cold sweat glisten her forehead. She needed some water.

Regina slipped her feet into her bedroom slippers and made her way down the hall. She listened out for Henry as she passed, but all was silent in the house. As she got into the kitchen Regina pulled her dressing gown tighter around her body as a cool breeze wrapped itself around her.

The moonlight beamed in through the window telling Regina it was still late as she made herself a glass of ice cold water from the cooler. She gulped down the first glass in seconds trying to rid her mind of unease it felt after the nightmare. Her mouth had felt like sand as she down a second cup. Finally taking her time with the third glass Regina could feel her heart rate return to a steady pace. The brunette let our a sigh, beginning to relax again. 'It was only a dream' she reminded herself. 'nothing more'

It was no secret that Regina still missed Daniel. Even now, years and years later, she still craved his presence. She wanted to hold him again, to kiss him again and she tortured herself every day with the known knowledge that she couldn't. The only comfort she got was knowing she had brought Daniel across with her twenty eight years ago. He was still close, even if she could never again know the feel of his lips on hers.

Regina placed the glass inside the dishwasher and let a sigh escape her lips. The mayor was once again calm, but her mind was still torturing her with final image of her dream. She could feel anger and hatred bubbling inside her as she focus on the dust falling from her mothers hand. She wanted to smash something. She wanted to rip Snow White's heart from her chest and make her wither in pain

"If only I hadn't saved her. She should have died instead of Daniel. It's all her fault!" Reigna muttered into the dark. Snow White was the reason she had lost her true love.

"Mom?" Suddenly Regina turned around to see Henry stood in the entrance to the kitchen. At the sight of her son her face softened. A smile changed her face from hate to love as she quickly brushed a hand through her hair, composing herself.

"Henry? What are you doing out of bed young man? It's very late." She walked towards her son as she waited for an answer. It was a moment or two before Regina realised Henry's face was tear stained. "Henry!" She held him by the shoulder and looked into his eyes. "What happened?"

The six-year-old was in his dinosaur print pyjama's, his brown hair was slightly tousled from sleep and he held his Mr Rabbit in his left hand. His fingers softly grazed over the rabbit's floppy ears. "I had a bad dream..." He started, his voice thick with worry and sleep. "I... I went to your room, but you weren't there." Fresh tears formed in the corner of his eyes. "I thought you had gone. That's when I heard noises from downstairs-" He inhaled a sharp breath and continued "so, I came down to see if you were down here and you are." Her let out a gut wrenching sob as Regina pulled him into her.

"Henry, honey, I'm so sorry. Mommy was thirsty and need a drink of water. I will never leave you, ever. Do you understand me?" She pulled back to look into her son's slightly red rimmed eyes. "I tell you what we'll get you a glass of milk and then we'll go back upstairs. Okay?" She smiled at him, pulling him in for another gentle hug.

Henry nodded his head. "Mommy?" Henry lifted his head up to look into his mother's eyes. Since Henry was now six he didn't call Regina mommy often, so when he did it caught Regina off guard but it filled her from head to toe with happiness.

"Yes, honey?" Her eyes fixed onto her son's giant brown orbs and she felt her heart beat with nothing but love and affection for her son.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Usually when Henry had a bad dream Regina would sit by his bed until he drifted off to sleep. This would usually happen through Regina telling him a bedtime story, either from his shelf or one that Regina made up. It was only on special occasions, when his nightmare had propelled him into such a stupor, that Regain allowed her son to sleep with her.

"Of course you can, baby. Henry-" Regina set him down on a stool as she walked over to the refrigerator and grabbing the milk, filling a glass. Then she leaned over the island and grabbed her little boy's hand, continuing "Bad dreams can't hurt you. I promise!" She said this to him with force, remind not only her someone but herself too. "You're safe. You're my little, strong and brave prince and mommy is here to protect you." She gave him another fierce hug before handing him his glass of milk. The kid downed it in one.

She smiled down at her boy, "I love you Henry."

"I love you too, Mommy." He said, he gave her a small smile back before wiping the milk-tache from his lips making Regina giggle slightly.

The pair slowly made their way up the stairs and to Regina's room where Regina held him tight all night, reassuring him that he was safe now. Neither mother or son has a nightmare again that night as their dreams led them onto different adventures.

A/N: The dialogue in Regina's nightmare is taken directly from Daniel's death scene in the 'The Stable Boy' episode. Reviews are always welcome. They give me inspiration and motivation to carry on the fanfic, so please keep fuelling me!