Daniel was so drunk that he could barely speak. He was thinking about what he had done to Regina over the past few weeks. How he had just run off because he needed an escape. He couldn't believe who, or rather what he had become.

Daniel waved at the bartender. The girl behind the bar looked at him then shook her head at his attempt to order another drink.

"I think you've had enough." she stated and with a shrug Daniel signed.

"Probably," He shrugged. "but I need another one, I'll go afterwards. I promise." he replied lamely

"Sorry." the bartender shrugged again. Daniel just stood up and walked out.

The cold air made him shiver. He was walking down the empty street, his mind was racing.

What the hell was he gonna do? How did he become like this? He suddenly thought of Henry, Regina's father. He had taken Daniel under his wing when he was a teenager.

Daniel's father didn't understand why his son wanted to work as a simple stableboy. It was beneath him, but Daniel insisted and Henry had convinced his father to let him work at their small stables.

Daniel had been so happy, but somewhere it had all gone downhill. He didn't know when or where it happened, but it didn't matter now anyway. He had become like his father, Albert Spencer. A terrible man he had always despised. Now he was just like him. He hated himself.

Daniel had treated Regina just as bad his father had treated both Daniel and his mother. He had used Regina as a punching bag. He even raped her. What have I done? Daniel thought to himself as he sat down on the pavement, then took a deep breath as a tear rolled slowly down his cheek.

He thought of the day Cora had come to their home to speak to him and his father about Regina. Daniel's father had told his son that he had no choice. He had to marry Regina, and if he didn't, he would disown him.

Their smirks had made Daniel sick to his stomach as he agreed. He had been so upset and angry, and taken it all out on Regina. Even though she was just as sad as him.

And now? He didn't know what he was gonna do. There was no fixing this. He deserved to rot in jail. His eyes widened at that thought. He would rather die!

Regina woke with a smile spreading across her lips as she saw Emma lying next to her. It had been a long time since they had woken up together, and just as long since Regina had woken up in a good mode.

She placed a kiss on Emma's temple, then the blonde slowly blinked her eyes open and smiled back.

"Mornin' beautiful." Emma said in a raspy and still sleepy voice. "Did you sleep well?"

"Like a baby Miss Swan, and you?"

"Oh yeah." she smiled brightly "I've missed waking up next to you." Emma admitted

"I feel the same, Emma." Regina smiled and pressed her lips against the blonde's. It was like falling in love all over again. That thought reminded Regina of the first time they met in the forest, at that spot that became "theirs".

Regina patted Rocinante's neck and he neighed in response. They had just galloped into the forest, and now they were trotting slowly down the trail. The birds were singing and Regina was humming happily.

She suddenly saw a girl with long blonde hair in a high ponytail. The girl was running with her eyes closed, a small distance ahead of them. She was dressed in black exercise pants and a sports bra. The outfit was very….fitted. Regina felt something tingling from her hair down to her toes.

Who is that? Regina wondered as she nudged her horse's side, making him go a little faster.

Soon they were close enough for Regina to actually see the girl, and she felt her heart beat faster. The girl was singing along to a song with earphones in, and headed straight for them.

Regina stopped Rocinante and the girl obviously wasn't paying attention to where she was going, so she ran straight into the horse. Rocinante neighed at her as she fell backwards. The earphones fell out and Regina chuckled.

"Oh fuck, sorry!" the blonde said loudly as she stood up and brushed off her clothes. "I didn't see you. I'm so so sorry!"

Regina studied the blonde girl in front of her. She recognized her vaguely. The blonde was tugging on her lip and looked almost terrified for running into someone's horse. She only hoped the beast wouldn't retaliate.

"I ehm, is your horse okay? I mean, he's not like injured?'" the blonde asked anxiously and Regina snapped back to reality.

"Oh no. He's a big boy. Besides that, he's quite clumsy on his own. He has run into a tree or two in the past." Regina chuckled again as she smirked "So it's nothing to worry about." Regina smiled and the blonde in front of her suddenly looked more relaxed.

"Oh ehm. Good. I mean. Ehm, Hi, I'm Emma."

"Hm, Emma Swan, perhaps?"

"Yes?" the blonde replied, with one eyebrow raised.

"You're the girl Granny took in, huh? That was a runaway?" Regina asked carefully and Emma tensed.

"Great. Yet another person who looks down on me. I knew that fucking story in the newspaper was a bad idea. Ugh. Sorry for bothering you." Emma groaned and was about to jog away, but Regina dismounted Rocinante and blocked her.

"I didn't ask you to go. I just wanted to make sure that was why I recognized you." She shrugged at the blonde.

"What? Don't you like pity me or something, like all the rest? I mean the story was only an introduction so that people in town wouldn't freak out, but people talk I guess..." Emma was looking really surprised.

"My name is Regina Mills, and I'm not one for gossip Miss Swan." She smiled.

"Oh? Wow. That's quite ehm amazing." Emma shrugged. "I guess ehm.. Regina, wow that is a ehm….beautiful name." Regina had a feeling that she was making the blonde nervous. Probably because she knew something personal about the girl.

"You're quite the talker huh?" Regina teased.

"Not with new people, and well, I always meet new people, because I have moved around so much...so ehm..yeah."

They stood and talked for a long while. Regina tried to listen carefully to Emma speak, but at the same time, she was also lost in her deep green eyes. They looked so conflicted, yet so friendly and strong.

Regina had seen a picture of Emma in the papers before, when the local news reporter, Sidney, had thought it was big news that Granny had taken an orphan into her home. Even then, when Regina had seen that picture of the blonde beside the old woman, she had thought she was beautiful. Now though, as she was standing right in front of her, she was absolutely breathtaking.

"Shit. I'm sorry, I gotta go or I'm gonna be late to work…" Emma stated, seemingly out of nowhere. Regina wondered if Emma actually had to go, or if she just lied about work because she wanted to leave.

"Oh..well thanks for the chat Miss Swan. It was nice to meet you." Regina said as she mounted her horse. "Do you run this trail often?"

"Yep. Every morning." Emma replied with a smile.

"Then maybe I'll see you around, Miss Swan. Rocinante and I always ride here." Though, not normally this early..." Regina replied with a smile. We will from now on.

"Ehm, awesome." Emma thought her heart stopped for a second as the brunette smiled directly at her. "I'll see you guys later, I guess." Emma nodded at her before she jogged away. She was just happy she was able to form any words with Regina smiling like that. Emma turned for a second to smile at her before running back towards the diner. She knew there would be a smile firmly planted on her face for the entire day.

In that moment Regina felt like something deep inside of her had woken up, and the feelings were already starting to grow.

Ruby and Belle woke up to a phone buzzing. Both of them groaned, and suddenly realised that they had fallen asleep on the couch.

"Hello?" Ruby answered finally and Belle buried her head under a pillow, groaning.

"Don't tell me you were still sleeping?" Granny chuckled.

"Pshh. No, actually we were up super early, sacrificing a flower to God." Ruby shot back and rolled her eyes. "Why wouldn't we be sleeping? It's early and we wanted to sleep in, yet here my boss is, waking me up."

"Always so charming in the morning, aren't you Ruby?" Granny teased and Ruby just rolled her eyes again.

"Did you have something to tell me, or did you just call me to be annoying?" Ruby asked as Belle chuckled against her chest. When Granny didn't chuckle as well Ruby sat up worried, pulling Belle along with her. "What's wrong Granny? Is Emma ok?"

"Oh Ruby, you worry too much." the old woman let out a forced laugh then continued "Actually. I called because I wanted to let you know that Regina's here, and I want you two to come over for breakfast."

"She's what?" Ruby nearly yelled as she jumped up from the couch, accidently making Belle fall down on the floor with a "ompfh"

"Rubes! For fuck sake!" Belle shouted and Ruby gave her a nervous smile in response.

"Sorry babe! Sorry Granny, I kinda made Belle fall off the couch, but ehm, you were saying?"

"Just get yourself and Belle ready, then come over for some family time over breakfast, Hm?"

"Sir, yes, sir!" Ruby grinned and ended the call. She turned her attention to the floor and offered her hand to help Belle up.

"So what the hell got you so excited that I ended up on the floor?" the brunette asked and Ruby smiled at her.

"Regina is back where she belongs."

"She is?" Belle smiled happily.

"Yepp. Apparently Swan brought her home yesterday." Ruby grinned. "I have never been more proud of my little sister."

Regina pulled on one of Emma's hoodies, and walked into Ruby's old room that Granny was turning into a hobby room. She found some makeup she could cover up her black-eye with.

Emma followed her and stood in the doorway, just watching Regina, wondering what was going on in her head. She didn't dare to ask but she knew. She really did.

"You don't have to do that Regina." Emma said in a calm tone and took a step forward. "You're still beautiful to me." Regina turned around and met Emma's green and honest eyes.

"I'm not beautiful. Not anymore.." Regina sighed.

"Hey, that's not true! Regina, please listen to me okay?" Emma said as their eyes locked. It felt like Emma was looking at her own reflection, because she knew what her girlfriend was both feeling and thinking. "Remember what you told me when I felt ashamed of my scars? It's just the same with these bruises. You're still the one I love Regina. You're still you."

Regina knew Emma's words were sincere and true, but that didn't take away this terrible feeling Regina had in the pit of her stomach.

The anxiety over what she was going through and what was actually growing inside of her. So Regina turned back to the mirror and continued to cover up her black-eye.

"Daniel is gonna pay for this Regina. Trust me." Emma mumbled the last part to herself, but Regina heard every word.

She couldn't help but to wonder though, if her and Emma's relationship would survive this. Were they strong enough? Honestly, she had her doubts, and that made her even more anxious.

Emma I need you.