before you get too mad at anyone in this chapter remember that everyone makes mistakes and you often take out your fears/frustration on the people closest to you. It's a fact of life and a part of every relationship that you hurt people without meaning to. Plus, have I ever not made something right? ;) xoxo

"You've been in here all morning," Regina pouted as she made her way into David's study, seeing him at his desk working, "You didn't even wake me up before you left our room this morning."

He glanced up from his work, immediately noticing the concerned look on his wife's face before setting his quill pen down in its jar. There were times, like this, that he knew she could get insecure and she internalized his actions whether they were intentional or not, "I'm sorry, my Queen. It's just that the storms last night brought heavy destruction to some nearby villages. I was brought word early this morning that the people are in need of my help," He sat back in his chair as he explained and saw her shoulders visibly relax as she made her way to him.

"Oh, that's horrible," She was truly sorry, chastising herself then for being pouty with him in the first place. "I'm sorry, you have much on your mind, I'll leave you to work."

"Come here, I haven't kissed you good morning yet," He smiled and gripped her hand, pulling her to sit in his lap as he reached to cup her face, "Forgive me for not doing so earlier," He added before leaning in to kiss her firmly for a long moment.

"All is forgiven," She smiled against his lips, relieved that it was nothing more. He typically always woke her, if not to make love then to give her a morning kiss. When he hadn't this morning her insides had churned and while she knew they'd come too far for her to doubt him, her mind got away from her. "What are you working on?"

"A trade deal for the nearby villages, some need timber, some need food supplies, the realm doesn't lack for them, it's just that different villages were founded on different trades," He nodded and let out a breath, "I'm trying to propose a way we can direct goods where they are needed, and that every village is included economically, especially now when there is devastation."

Regina looked down at his plans, leaning her elbows on his desk, "We should go to these villages and speak with the people, let them know that we are going to help."

"You would want to?" He asked, his tone a bit surprised.

"Why wouldn't I? I don't get a chance to interact with our people and I'd like to," She gave a shrug as she gazed over his plans, "I want to help."

"They'll love you," David smiled, locking his arms around her waist as he took advantage of the vee in the back of her dress and pressed his lips to the skin between her shoulder blades. He heard her sigh and felt her shiver, grinning as he playfully grazed his scruffy chin over her skin.

"Daviiiid," She warned but he heard the smile in her tone, felt the way she squirmed and pressed her ass harder into his lap.

"You know we haven't done it in here yet," He said, his tone a bit gruffer and she felt her nipples go hard between his voice and stubble tickling her back.

"Someone may hear us out there, what if my father comes to speak with you-" She began to protest but she felt him growing underneath her, glancing down when his hands bunched up the skirt of her velvet dress and began to work it up.

"That's why I'm not going to undress you, my love," He grinned as he brought one hand down to untie his breeches, the other continuing to bring up the skirt of her dress enough to get it out from under her ass, "If you stopped wearing small clothes this would be much easier."

"How are we-David, right here?" She sounded shocked and he chuckled at her, watching her grip the edge of the desk and moan under her breath as he managed to get a hand up her dress, bringing it around to the front and shoving it down in her small clothes.

"I'll show you," He groaned into the skin of her back, lips kissing and nipping as he hooked his knees in between her own before spreading them wide.

"Mmmm," She moaned and her head fell forward for a moment as he rubbed circles on her clit after spreading her wide open, though her dress fell over her in the front, sufficiently covering them both.

"You're so beautiful, Regina," He murmured into her skin, fingers working on her bundle of nerves as his lips nibbled on her neck and shoulders, "You get so wet for me," He smirked against her skin, probing his fingers in her and earning a moan, "You want more?"

"Stop teasing, David," She whined and nodded, head falling to the side as he sucked down on her neck again and pushed two fingers inside of her, making her hips squirm on top of him.

"You've certainly gotten bossy," He grinned against her skin, curling his fingers inside of her as he started to move them.

"Oh," She gasped when his fingertips hit something inside of her, hips jerking as her grip tightened on the edge of the desk.

"Mmm, there it is," David groaned to himself, angling his wrist so he could thrust his fingers against it, "Fuck, I can't wait to take you."

"Do it," She nearly cried out, hips squirming, rocking on his hand in search of a release. His hands fumbled behind her as he got himself out of his pants hastily with her command before reaching under her dress again, "David!" She gasped when he ripped her small clothes at the seams.

"Ill have you more made," He smirked against her skin as he bit down on her neck, "Lift up a little, baby," He ran his hands over the rounds of her ass, helping lift her up as his cock sprang up underneath her, tip begging for entrance, "Remember when you came against the wall in our room?" He whispered near her ear.

Regina moaned and nodded, shaky legs holding her up just slightly from his lap so he could rub himself along her, "Yes."

"Because I hit that spot inside of you," He groaned at the thought, pressing his tip into her folds before gripping her hips and bringing her down, hearing her cry out, "That spot," He grit through his teeth as he regained control. She felt so tight sitting on him like this, back to him and legs splayed. He wished she were completely naked so he could see the way her ass sat snugly on his groin, so he could see how deeply he was buried inside of her.

"Yes," She moaned, back curling as she rocked her hips backwards and keened at the feeling, "Right there, David mm-I'm not, not sure what to-to do," She gasped at how deeply she felt him, how he stretched her in this position, how open she was to him.

"Ride me," He groaned, hands gripping her hips as he started to grind her hips on his, cock buried between her thighs. She fell into the rhythm quickly, hands gripping the desk for support as she started to roll her hips forward and backwards on him, moaning from deep in her throat.

"Like this?" She asked, whimpers coming out of her nearly before she could finish. Her head fell back, dark hair mussing against his face and he inhaled her scent. God, he would never tire of this woman.

"Yes, you're so good," He groaned deeply as she rolled and curled and squirmed on his cock, keeping one hand on her left hip as the other rounded to her front, slipping down to tease her clit again, "Focus, baby," He bit on her skin when he felt her hips falter in rhythm, knew she was coiling and tightening.

David began to thrust his hips up into her slightly, creating friction with each rut that had her gasping, "Right there! Like that!" She cried desperately, riding him harder as he jolted her with his cock, hitting the place inside of her that would make her see stars.

"Hold on to it," He groaned, beckoning her to keep control for a few seconds longer, knowing he could make her come harder if he kept hitting her there, "Yes, fuck!" He felt her clench, felt her cum drench them both as she cried out and her body writhed on top of hip, hips frantically jerking, walls clamping down around the root of his cock.

"Gods, Regina," He groaned loudly, picking her hips up off him quickly as he came against her ass, "I'm sorry, my love," He said breathlessly as she nearly doubled over, arms barely holding her top half up as he brought his kerchief from his suit and cleaned her up, setting her back down on his lap breathlessly.

She fell back against his chest, head lolling on his shoulder, "You make me act in a manner that is most unbecoming of a lady," She said breathlessly, a satisfied smirk on her lips.

"I intend to do so as often as I can," His voice rumbled in his chest and he chuckled near her ear, hand splayed over her stomach as they both caught their breaths, "Why don't you go change your small clothes and I'll have the carriage drawn around, and we'll go visit some villages?"

"Really?" She smiled and turned her head to the side to look at him, her hands resting over his own.

"Mhm, I want everyone to know and love the Queen I do," He murmured, kissing her cheek once as he helped shimmy her dress back down her thighs.

She smiled, sitting up straight and allowing him space to get tucked back into his pants, "Have you talked with Emma since your argument? You should do so before we leave."

"I will," He nodded as he tied up his breeches before giving her a pat on the bottom, the door to his office swinging open quickly.

"There you two are," Red was breathless as she barged in, completely unfazed by the Queen sitting in the King's lap.

"Red, what on earth-"

"It's Emma, she wasn't in her chamber this morning David. I think she ran off last night and with the storm-" Red swallowed hard, unable to finish her sentence, "I trailed her as far as the edge of the woods, but the rain ruined the trail, washed away her scent."

"Go get my men, tell them to get my horse," David stood immediately after Regina jumped up.

"Tell them to get mine, too," She frowned earnestly as she and her husband exchanged concerned glances, "We'll find her, David."

They'd ridden for nearly two hours in the rain, through the forest, screaming out Emma's name until their voices begged for a break. David's heart was beating erratically, afraid for his daughter's life. Scenarios ran through his mind, each one growing more terrifying than the next.

His men formed search parties, scattering in different directions, but he and Regina had ridden together in a search of their own. If the last words he ever said to his daughter were coarse ones, he'd never forgive himself. Anxiety gripped him with each passing moment.

Regina and David were both drenched to the bone and when he glanced at his wife he could see her breath in the chilly winter air but she did not complain. She merely called out for his daughter again as they traveled deeper and deeper into the forest.0/

"David! Look!" A gasp sounded from her as she pointed towards the river bank towards a mound of material.

He immediately slapped the reigns on his horse harshly, sending him full speed ahead and Regina's horse followed. When he approached his heart sank in his chest as he recognized the blonde hair splayed on the ground, "Emma! No!" He yelled, dismounting with a swing of his leg and rushing to his daughters wet, lifeless form.

Regina quickly followed him, kneeling beside him in the mid as he reached out to cup Emma's face, "No no this is all my fault!" He choked on his words, his emotions taking over at the thought of losing his child.

"It isn't," Regina argued, pressing her fingertips to Emma's neck and feeling a faint pulse there, "David it isn't your fault, she's-"

"Of course it's my fault!" He barked back at her, seeing his daughters blue lips, the gash on her head where she'd fallen from her horse, "If I hadn't been so hard on her she wouldn't have ran away!"

Regina felt the sting of his tone but didn't take it personally, she'd be distraught too if she found her child near dead, in fact she was distraught, but she had to stay calm for him, "She'll be okay, she's still alive David it will be fine."

"How can you say that?" He snapped, cradling his daughter's head, "You don't know that. I might have killed her and for what?! My pride?! She's all I have, she's all I've had for years and I may have just cost her her life!"

She felt the brunt of those words like a punch to the gut, swallowing hard as he yelled them at her. The desperation in his eyes scared her, wakening her to the harsh reality that while he may love her, it would never compare to the love he had for his first wife and child. Regardless, Regina knew what losing someone you loved felt like and it pained her to think of David going through that again, he didn't deserve it.

Regina hadn't taught herself much healing magic and she knew it could be dangerous if not done correctly, but she couldn't allow Emma to die in her husbands arms. She'd never forgive herself is she hadn't tried, so she did. Her husband barely noticed either, cradling Emma's head and trying to wake her while Regina put her hands over her stepdaughters form, beginning to recite a healing spell silently.

David's eyes widened after a few moments, seeing Emma gasp in a breath and her own eyes begin to flitter open. Her color came flooding back and he glanced up to bring this miracle to Regina's attention when his heart stopped. Regina was straining over Emma's body, arms tense and magic coming from her fingertips. Her eyes were closed and she mumbled, grimacing in pain as the color drained from her.

"Regina?" He swallowed hard as she started to tremble, watching as his daughter healed with every passing second while his wife deteriorated, "Regina stop!" He yelled when blood trickled from her nose at the strain of her magic. It was only a few seconds before she did so, though not willingly, as she collapsed on the forest ground as pale as her step daughter had been.

"Dad?" Emma's brows furrowed at the look on his face when her eyes focused, her brain hazy, "What happened?"

"What in gods name?!" Granny exclaimed when David trudged into the castle, dripping wet from head to toe as he carried his wife. Regina was limp in his arms, a gash on her head and blue lips. The King had a wild look of fear in his eyes, the rain blowing in the foyer of the castle as people bustled in behind him.

"Granny help, please," He swallowed hard as he glanced down at his unresponsive wife and Granny's gaze caught one of the knights helping a wary princess into the castle behind them.

"Get the girl settled," Granny nudged Ruby towards Emma before motioning for David to follow, "Come, we've got to get her warmed up."

He followed obediently, carrying his Queen's petite frame with ease as he took the stairs two at a time. Granny was bustling as well and it did nothing to calm his nerves to know that the older woman was worried enough to practically run herself.

"What happened to her?" Granny asked as she pulled down the covers once they got to the couple's chamber and David carried the unconscious Queen to the bed.

"We found Emma, she'd fallen from her horse and was near dead," David swallowed hard as he cradled Regina to him, "I...I was upset and I snapped at her when she was only trying to help and...Granny she...she did some sort of magic, she took Emma's injuries as her own, I don't know..."

Her lips pressed into a thin line, "You goddamned fool, lay her down. Gently!" She bit at him and he nodded tearfully, laying his wife down on the bed, "Help me get her out of this dress."

"I'm so sorry, Regina," He whispered at her, seeing blood smeared under her nose as he worked at her corset, helping Granny strip her down. They got all of the wet clothing off of her before moving her to the dry side of the bed, covering her with the sheet for her modesty.

"Get away from her now and get into something dry!" Granny barked at him and he obeyed without a word, quickly making his way over to his wardrobe to find something.

"Foolish girl," She murmured softly as she brushed Regina's hair back and studied the wound on her head, luckily it was near the hairline and would heal unnoticeably. "Bring me some hot water and fresh linens, boy," She called out to David as she examined the Queen's for other injuries.

Granny lifted the blanket and sighed sadly at the young Queen's midsection, noticing the deep bruising around her ribs. She prayed there was no internal bleeding and that it was purely bones and soft tissue damage. Aside from a few cuts and scrapes, it looked like Emma's head and ribs caught the brunt of the fall. The best she could do now would be to clean Regina, warm her and wait.

"Here," David rushed back in wearing dry clothes, his expression wracked with guilt as he held a handful of linen cloth and a basin of water.

"On the nightstand," Granny said coolly, unable to look him in the eye yet. If she did, she'd end up clobbering his ass. She heard him set it down on the nightstand before she reached for a cloth and wet it, wringing it out before bringing it to Regina's scalp to clean the wound.

"I'm a fool. I'm such a fucking fool," David shook his head and paced, "I said that Emma was all I had granny, I didn't mean it like that but I saw the look on Regina's face and then the next thing I knew she...God, is she going to be okay?!"

"Looks like she's probably got some head trauma and a few bruised or broken ribs, boy," Granny admitted in a softer tone. He loved the Queen, she knew that, and an old wolf especially understood that sometimes you snapped at the ones you loved. "Her sides will be fine, it's her head that worries me," Granny muttered, knowing how easy it was to have bleeding on the brain.

Regina looked slightly less pale as Granny pulled the blankets over her, "I'm going to tear up some linens to wrap those sides of hers, you keep an eye on her." She turned from the bed and watched the King nod quickly. He rounded the bed, easing onto the other side careful to not move Regina as he laid down and took one of her hands in his. Such a fool.