A/N: Hello, all. Sorry for the delay. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and I hope you enjoy it. I had a Snow Day today for the first time in a long time and this chapter was the product of it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

. . .

She flinched when she heard his voice, her magic prickling uncomfortably at her fingertips. Her powers were still so untamed, even after three months of lessons. Regina had never noticed it before, but once she found out about her magic, she realized that it had always been there. Now she felt it even when she breathed.

"Rumplestiltskin."

He was sitting at her vanity, his scaly hands toying with her perfumes and jewelry. When he spoke, he turned towards the young queen.

"I thought I'd come and offer my congratulations. I hear there's to be a wedding."

"What do you want?"

He ignored her question. "I wonder if you'll still wear white. It's a symbol of purity, dearie, and you and I both know you're anything but."

"If you've only come here to taunt me, I suggest you get out. I'm in no mood for you today."

He gawked at her, a hand flying to his chest in mock astonishment. "Such rudeness! I hope you weren't this hostile to your husband-to-be. He might start believing those dreadful rumors. You know, the ones about you murdering the King."

"Robin knows I didn't kill Leopold."

"On a first name basis, now, are we?"

Regina didn't quite know how to respond to that. There was something in the way Rumple said it; it was full of suggestion, like he had set up a trap he was sure she would fall for. It didn't matter, for her pause had been enough of an answer.

Rumple stood and stalked towards her. The light from the fire glinted across the pallor of his skin, making him seem even more other-worldly, more dangerous than usual. Regina stood her ground.

"I hope you know this doesn't change a thing, dearie."

"How would Robin change anything?"

He stepped closer to her, close enough that she could feel his breath on her cheek. "Well, you see that's all up to you. Just know this: You asked for my help. I'm the only way you will ever escape this place. Especially now, with so many calling for your head on a spike. Without me, you have nothing-and who knows! This young man may be more of a distraction than you realize."

"I want nothing more than to leave. Robin won't change that."

"You know, dearie," he said, his voice low, "you might consider convincing yourself of that before you try to convince me."

He pulled back suddenly, startling her, and he smiled. "You'd better get your rest, Your Majesty. You have a long week ahead of you."

Regina blinked, and in an instant, he was gone.

. . .

She woke the next morning the same way she had ever since Leopold's death-with Snow sleeping beside her, hands clutching at her nightdress.

From experience, Regina knew that any attempts to get up and get on with her day would only result in ruining a perfectly good nightgown. The girl had been having nightmares ever since her father died, and any attempts to calm her before bedtime had proved futile.

Regina shifted, turning her body towards her stepdaughter and reaching out a hand to stroke her dark hair. "Snow," she murmured, her voice rough from sleep, "wake up, dear."

Snow stirred immediately, her grip on Regina loosening as her eyes blinked blearily open.

"Go back to your room and get ready. I'll expect they'll have breakfast laid out for us soon."

"Robin, too?"

Regina sighed and tried to keep her voice even when she said, "Yes, for Robin as well."

Snow sat up and stretched her arms above her head, inhaling deeply before plopping them back down on the duvet. "I've never noticed how big your bed is, Regina," she said. Regina supposed that her bed would seem large to a little girl. Even with her and Snow in it, several more people could fit comfortably on it. It certainly was fit for a queen. She supposed that-

"Do you ever get lonely in it?" Snow asked.

"No, I don't," Regina lied, swallowing the anger that rose in her throat. She was such a foolish, selfish little girl, with no consideration for anything but herself. If it were up to Regina, Snow would be buried just like her wretched father, just like Daniel, and she would be gone, gone, gone…

The queen tried to stifle her anger, but it only seeped deeper into her body. Her thoughts took on a life of their own. A cacophony of rage was unfurling inside of her, and Regina didn't even try to stop it. That's when she felt it, the pressure at her temples, the now familiar sensation of her skin prickling as her magic teemed through her veins. She was about to burst, she couldn't contain it. Not even the voice at the back of her mind, the one that got quieter by the day, that screamed for her to stop, could calm her.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her arm. "Regina, are you alright? You're shaking."

Snow took her hand and squeezed. Regina turned her face towards her stepdaughter, who was looking at her with those big, worried eyes that held not even a shred of contempt. Regina squeezed back eagerly. The touch was a lifeline and she used it to pull herself back from the edge. She took a deep breath, the tidal wave of emotion receding into a manageable current.

"I'm fine, dear. I'll feel better once I've eaten. Now go and get dressed. We wouldn't want to keep Robin waiting."

That seemed to appease her. Snow left the room smiling, and Regina pulled her knees to her chest. She buried her face in the crook of her elbow, clutching her arms around her legs and closing her eyes until she had colors popping behind her eyelids. When she raised her head a few short minutes later, Regina was ready to face the day ahead.

. . .

Snow and Robin were already in the dining room by the time she arrived. They seemed quite the pair, with Snow laughing as Robin spoke animatedly. When Regina walked in, they both turned to look at her. Their laughter lingered in their eyes.

Robin stood up as soon as he saw her. "Good morning," he said, immediately walking around the table to pull a chair out for her next to Snow. Again, there was that look in his eyes as they met hers. Like she was something beautiful, like he was looking at the sun and he would rather go blind than look away.

For the second time this morning, she felt like she could scarcely breathe.

Regina thanked him and sat down. When he pushed his chair in for her, his fingers brushed against the exposed skin at the top of her back and she felt the touch wind its way down her spine and settle, fluttering, in her stomach.

"Did you sleep well?" Regina said. A footman silently poured her a cup of coffee, a dash of milk with two lumps of sugar, and set it down wordlessly in front of her. She reached for it eagerly, grateful to have something to do with her hands.

"I did, thank you," Robin replied, but when Regina looked at him, truly perusing his face for the first time since she sat down, she knew he was lying. He looked much like she did after her first night in this castle. His gaze was bleary and he had a darkness lingering under his eyes that told her his night was anything but restful.

She remembers her first night here more than she'd like to. The fear, the uncertainty, and the sorrow settling into her bones even as she tried to reject them, to convince herself that it was all just a bad dream. Regina wonders if that's how he felt, if last night will be seared into his heart forever as it is hers.

Their eyes met across the table as Snow prattled on about her violin lessons, and that's when she saw it. For a moment, he didn't look at her like the sun. Robin gazed at her and in his bright blue orbs she could see the same crushing fear and doubt that lived in her. It only lasted a split second, but Gods, she hoped he saw the empathy leaking from her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to comfort him, this stranger, this kindred spirit.

If I could leave, I'd take you with me.

It was this thought that snapped her out of her trance. She won't let Rumple be right.

She tore her eyes from his and started spooning fruit onto her plate. "Does the Council have another busy day planned for you?"

"They do, I'm afraid," He started. "When I woke up I had a message from Lord Grey to meet him after breakfast. Did you get one as well?"

Regina chewed and swallowed the last bit of melon in her mouth before she answered. "No, I didn't."

"That's quite a pity. I was hoping to have your support. They are quite the, uh...formidable group."

"Does formidable mean boring?" Snow said, drowning the scone on her plate in honey.

"No," Regina said, "Formidable means that they're powerful, that they're worthy of respect."

"Oh," Snow sighed. "I suppose. But they're terribly boring, too. I'm sorry you have to spend so much time with them, Robin."

Snow said this with genuine concern and Regina didn't have it in her heart to admonish the girl, especially when she looked across the table and saw Robin smiling.

He chuckled, a lovely, warm sound and leaned forward. "You know," he said, his voice low, "They are quite boring. Perhaps we could play a little joke on them sometime."

Snow gasped. "Really?!"

Robin nodded, smiling at Snow's excitement. "If those grouchy old men could take a little joke, I just know those awful meetings would be more fun."

Robin laughed outright at this, captivating her, his dimples framing a genuine smile. "From your mouth to the Gods' ears."

The pair of them giggled and Regina found herself laughing with them before she even realized it.

. . .

Rocinante was getting restless. Regina could sympathize.

She hadn't ridden him ever since the King died. That was over two months ago now.

Still, she came to visit him every day. A stable hand took him out for a short ride every morning, but he was used to long, winding trails. He was meant to have his heart pounding in his chest, itching to break free as his hooves moved faster and faster against the ground. He was not meant to be cooped up like this and lately Regina's only solace came in the hour or so she spent grooming him every afternoon.

She was brushing his mane when he turned his head abruptly, his muzzle bumping her shoulder. A low noise of acknowledgement hummed low in her throat and she rose her hand to stroke the spot just above his nose. Rocinante snorted, his ears twitching before knocking her in the shoulder again.

"What is it?" She said softly, barely looking up from her work.

"That's quite the smart horse you have."

She jumped at the intruding voice and when she turned she found Robin standing at the entrance of the stables.

He took a step forward. "I'm sorry to have startled you."

Regina turned to him fully. "You didn't. I was just focused."

Robin nodded, his eyes widening. "Ah, well then I wouldn't want to disturb you." He moved to leave, and they were both taken by surprise when Regina called after him.

"Wait," she said. "I'm done, anyway. I was going to walk back to the castle."

"Care for some company? I spent most of my day in session with the Council and I'd be grateful for it."

Even though his eyes were still tired, he seemed genuinely cheerful when she agreed.

"How was your meeting?" She asked, securing Rocinante's door.

"I'm afraid the Council is rather reluctant to comply with the current plans for the wedding. They want on for an hour about how breaking tradition would be a poor start to my reign with the kingdom already so unsettled. Nevertheless, I told them I wanted to stick with the current plan of having a small wedding and having my father pay for as much as the coronation as he can, but we would still need to tax the people either way. At the very least, they should be able to attend the coronation."

He held the door for her has they left the stable and the early spring air was crisp and dewy, the sun starting to hang low in the sky.

"How did they take it?"

"Hard to say. It's rather hard for me to tell them all apart. They all have that same mildly perturbed look about them."

She smiled at that. "Well, I think it shows humility. No matter what the council says, I'm happy to hear that you're determined not to tax the people simply for our own excess."

He smiled at her and she had the sudden, silly urge to reach out and touch his dimples. "Thank you, Regina. I'm assuming plans are already under way for the wedding?"

"They are. It's been decided it won't be practical to make me a whole new wedding dress. I have a few dresses that will be suitable. Snow threw a fit when I told her we wouldn't be getting new ones."

"I'm sorry," Robin said. They came across a patch of mud and he placed his hand on her back to guide her around it.

"Don't be," Regina replied. "Children get upset."

"Regina," he said. The tenor of his voice became tentative and tense, and she felt her stomach begin to knot. "May I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"How do you feel about going on a honeymoon?"

She stops walking and looks at him. He's nervous, that much she can see. His gaze is piercing, so eager for her answer, so she looks down at their feet. It dawns on her that this is the first time he's seen her in her plain riding clothes. There's dirt smudged on her right pant leg, just above the knee, and she probably smells like damp hay.

"I'm not sure."

"I know that you and Leopold went on a honeymoon. The Council explained it to me. I know he took you on a tour of the kingdom, but in Sherwood the tradition is for a man and wife to seclude themselves after the wedding. Marriages where I'm from are almost always arranged and a honeymoon is a chance for couples to get to know each other better. All I want is to know you better, Regina."

Her dark eyes glanced up from the ground to meet his. His words felt like a confession. "Robin…"

"I don't need an answer now. I just thought I would ask."

All I want is to know you better.

Regina took a deep, steadying breath. She tugged at the hem of her blouse nervously, and she could almost hear her mother's voice berating her for it. Regina searched his face for any sign of lechery or deceit, but she found none. He's cracked open in front of her, awaiting her answer with all the hope he can muster. A warmth bloomed in her chest then, because of course she wouldn't find those things. Robin isn't Leopold.

"Where would you want to go?"

His instantly relaxed with relief and his face lit up with the most beautiful grin.

"I don't know," he said. "I thought we could decide together."

"Alright," Regina replied. With that, they kept moving along the path, their elbows bumping as they walked.

One terrifying, hopeful, lovely thought wandered perilously into her mind:

Perhaps this wouldn't be so terrible after all.

. . .

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