A/N: Thanks to impureevilregal and EvilRegalTwinnies for reviewing! :)

The next day, early in the morning, Regina packed her things up and left with Talulla once again, this time determined that nothing would get in the way of her leaving. Not her mother, not her father and certainly not little Snow White.

Soon the castle was out of sight and the sun had risen, casting light through the greenery above and causing sunbeams to dance around her. It was going to be a nice day and that made Regina smile. It showed promise. She would soon be out of Leopold's kingdom, never to return and she could finally have her happy ending. Well, happier ending. She wouldn't have Daniel. Her face fell a little. She would have everything but her True Love, yet she knew deep down that there was nothing she could do about it. She would have to be content in raising his daughter instead.

She looked down to check on Talulla and was surprised to find her awake and watching her mother with fascination in her eyes. Over the last few weeks, those eyes had been turning brown, much like her own. In fact, little Talulla looked very much like her mother, all apart from her nose, which was already so much like her father's. Regina's heart contracted painfully. She missed him so much and every time she looked at their daughter, she would be reminded of him. She sighed. If only she'd been more careful that evening…

However, before she could think too much down that line, part of her suddenly realised that Daniel would not want her to mourn over him like that. He would want Talulla to remind her of the days when she was with him, when they were happy together. And that's what she would do. She wouldn't think of him cold and dead in her arms, she would think of his smile, of the way he kissed her, the times they spent laughing together in the orchard under her apple tree.

Just as they crossed the border, Regina heard a rustle and her head snapped round, terrified that she would see another branch coming for her, that the barrier spell hadn't disappeared when she'd got rid of her mother. Yet, as she did, there came a voice from in front of her.

"Leaving are we?"

Regina whipped back around and pulled on the reins to stop Rocinante. It was only Rumpelstiltskin. She forced herself to push down the panic.

"That was always the plan," she said, and then she dismounted, fumbling for the book in her satchel. "Here, a gift." She handed the book she had stolen from her mother. "I don't want it."

"Ah, can't be a gift if it's mine to start with," he said as Regina turned to mount her horse again, but he wasn't finished with her yet. "Before you go, answer me this. How did it feel?" He cocked his head to one side, his eyes gleaming as she turned back, clear regret in her eyes.

"I loved my mother."

Rumpelstiltskin held up a finger. "That is not what I asked, dearie. How did it feel… to use magic?" His eyes lit up again as he grinned at her.

Regina kept her own eyes flat as she answered him. "It doesn't matter," she said. "I'll never use it again, for Talulla's sake."

"Why not?"

"I've just told you, I don't want Talulla to be harmed and with the way my mother–"

Rumpelstiltskin stopped her. "Tell me the truth, dearie," he said.

Regina stopped trying to remount her horse and took a shaky breath, looking down sheepishly. "Because I loved it," she whispered, barely loud enough for the strange man to hear her.

The man grinned, looking at her as his eyes shone. "You've discovered who you are. You could do so much now… if you let me show you how," he sang, waggling his finger at her knowingly.

However, Regina wasn't convinced. "Through magic?" she asked.

"Through many things."

"And what do you get out of it?" The young woman knew that there had to be something, some catch to this. A man like him wouldn't just offer up such a thing if there wasn't a catch.

"Someday, you'll do something for me," he replied, holding the book out for her to take. "Let me guide you."

The young woman hesitated. Talulla. She didn't want magic to be a part of her life, not like her what her mother had used with her. But if this was who she was… and she could control it so she didn't use it like her mother had done… would it be alright then? Yet, what if she couldn't control it?

She looked up and grabbed the book. "And I won't become like her?" she asked Rumpelstiltskin for confirmation.

He merely smiled and let her take the book. "That dearie, is entirely up to you." And with that he was gone in a swirl of purple smoke, leaving Regina standing there with the book in her hands.

"It looks as though we won't be leaving then, Talulla," she said to the little baby strapped against her chest, standing there a moment, before mounting her horse and with one last glance at freedom, turned and galloped back in the direction of the castle once more.

"Regina, where have you been? My father has been looking all over for you!" Snow cried, running up as soon as she saw the woman entering the castle.

"I went for a ride, I… I just needed some air, that's all." She smiled at the young girl, yet inside she was disgusted with herself to find that she wanted nothing more than to make Snow pay for what she had done. She tried to push it from her mind, thinking about what she had just agreed with herself.

"Oh, well, it looks like a nice day out there," the dark haired girl continued.

"It is a beautiful day. Talulla and I were just enjoying the views."

"Maybe tomorrow we could all go riding together seeing as though we're going to be family? Then I can see the views too."

That was something she certainly didn't want, Regina thought to herself, but she couldn't tell Snow what she had done, she was too young to understand. So instead, she lied.

"Yes, perhaps we could, dear, but it really all depends on whether Talulla's up for it. I wouldn't want to tire her out as today is going to be a big day."

"Yes, yes it is, and you're going to look so beautiful for my father, Regina. I wish that one day I can be as fair as you are." Snow looked up at her, adoration clear in her eyes, yet the young woman averted her gaze. She could never love Snow, not after what she did to Daniel.

"I'm sure you will, Snow," she said stiffly.

I'm going to love having you as a mother, I know it! We can do so much together."

"Of course we can, dear." She tried to smile, but the conversation was getting worse by the minute. She needed to find a way to get away from her before she said something she knew she would regret.

"Regina, I was going to ask you, but have you seen your mother? I can't find her anywhere. She said to go and talk to her yesterday about the wedding."

Regina's heart jumped a little at the mention of Cora. "No, I have not seen my mother," she lied quickly. "I'm sorry, Snow, but I must go. I have to find someone to look after Talulla before I go and find your father."

It wasn't exactly a lie, Regina thought to herself as she climbed the stairs leading to her chambers, but it wasn't the truth either. She knew Snow wouldn't find her mother, that was for certain, but she didn't know exactly where Cora was. Plus, she really didn't want to speak to Snow now and sending her on a wild goose chase would keep the girl out of her hair.

"I don't know what I'd be without you, Talulla," she whispered. "Without you and your grandfather I'd be lost. Utterly lost."

Please let me know what you guys think, anything I can do to improve?